Commission clarifies Number Portability

Commission clarifies Number Portability Determination

In a decision released today, the Commission has clarified the Local and Cellular Telephone Number Portability Determination issued 31 August 2005, to confirm that pre-paid mobile services are covered under the terms of the original Determination.

Number portability was launched on 1 April 2007 and allows a customer to switch telecommunications service providers and retain their telephone number. The Commission became aware that Telecom pre-pay customers were unable to switch to Vodafone pre-pay while retaining their original telephone number.

Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Ross Patterson said “This Clarification ensures that all customers, no matter what mobile service they subscribe to, should be able to switch providers and retain the same telephone number. All parties to the Determination are now clear that they need to implement the technology to provide equivalent services and features to customers switching providers.”

Parties to the Determination will have until 1 April 2008 to implement technology changes to comply with the Clarification.

The Determination can be read on the Commission’s website

ENDS

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