AUCKLAND, 18 December 2009
Mobile competition stimulates mass porting of numbers
New Zealand mobile provider 2degrees can reveal that it has reached 42,500 mobile ports since it launched in August this
year. That equates to approximately 8,500 mobile numbers transferred across each month since 2degrees burst onto the
telecommunications scene to offer New Zealanders a fairer deal.
Mobile number portability gives consumers the ability to keep their existing mobile phone number if they change
telecommunications providers.
2degrees CEO, Eric Hertz says, “The dramatic increase in the number of mobile ports is demonstrated by the fact that,
prior to our launch, the average per month was only 3,501 numbers.
“Since 2degress entered the market in August, mobile porting has increased by 410%, hitting a staggering monthly average
of 14,377, and 70% of these numbers have been transferred over to 2degrees. Of our 42,500 mobile ports, 85% have moved
to 2degrees from Vodafone,” Mr Hertz said.
Although mandated in the Telecommunications Act 2001, number porting only first became available in April 2007 following
protracted negotiations between the Commerce Commission and incumbent telcos.
“Even though number porting has been available for more than two years, more than one third of all numbers ported to
date has occurred in the last four months since we launched,” said Mr Hertz.
The total number of mobile numbers ported in the 2 years and 4 months leading up to the arrival of 2degrees into the New
Zealand market was 98,028, at a monthly average of 3,501. The total for the four months from August through to November
this year, coinciding with the first four months of real competition offered by 2degrees, is 57,508, at a monthly
average to 14,377 mobile numbers ported. Therefore, 37% of all numbers ported since April 2007 has occurred since the
launch of 2degrees.
How to keep your mobile phone number
Mobile customers have the ability to keep their mobile phone number when they move to another mobile company. This is
called number porting or number transfer.
The porting process with 2degrees is all done online, which is unlike the porting process offered by other mobile phone
service providers.
Once a customer has activated their SIM, they simply need to login to the “Your 2degrees” section of the 2degrees
website. This section enables customers to manage their account, check their usage, top-up their account, select a new
022 number or port their existing mobile number to 2degrees.
Once the customer has completed the request their number will be ported over and working on the 2degrees network within
one working day.
To find out more about number porting visit: www.2degreesmobile.co.nz
ENDS