Customers cling to mobile numbers, change networks

AUCKLAND, 3 June 2010

Customers cling to mobile numbers while changing networks

New data from Telecommunications Carriers Forum shows Kiwis taking ownership of their numbers

The number of 2degrees customers who have brought their existing mobile number with them when joining New Zealand’s newest mobile network has now reached 75,000.

Called ‘number porting’ the ability for a mobile user to keep ownership of their number when switching networks is a relatively unknown and underutilised service in New Zealand.

According to Bill McCabe, chief operating officer for 2degrees: “New Zealand has one of the fastest, most efficient porting systems in the world, but this is only now starting to be understood by customers. Since our launch last year there is now a real choice for customers who are searching to get the best deal from mobile providers.”

The number porting figures, managed by the Telecommunications Carriers Forum (TCF), have shown a significant and steady increase since August 2009 and of the 122,325 total ports for the year ending May 2010 around 61 percent of those ports were people bringing their mobile number to 2degrees. Of these, around 80 percent were people moving to 2degrees from the Vodafone network.

Prior to 2degrees launch, number porting figures in New Zealand would typically fluctuate between 3-5,000 ports a month.

“There was a significant peak in ports in September last year following our launch with 17,313 mobile ports, and the numbers have stayed consistently high since then. Last month alone there were 10,116 ports with over 50 percent of those ports people bringing their number to 2degrees,” says Bill.

With the increase in people porting their number from one mobile network to another 2degrees maintains that it makes the practice of ‘on-network’ only pricing offers increasingly untenable for other mobile providers.

“We’ve avoided this issue by delivering our customers great any-network prices so they can call their friends and family no matter what network they are on,” says Bill.

What is number portability?

Number portability means that you own your phone number, and get to take it with you when changing networks. Your number is a part of your identity, and protected by law to make it portable, so you can carry it with you wherever you go. Thanks to legal changes in the New Zealand marketplace, that means that you can have a 021, 027 or 029 prefix to your mobile number and be on 2degrees.

2degrees customers can text the shortcode 300 to find out if the person they are calling is on the 2degrees network or not.

How to Port Your Mobile Number

Transferring your mobile number from another network to 2degrees can be done easily online. Customers just need to fill out a simple form, and 2degrees does the rest. The entire process usually takes about three hours to complete.

Information regarding the number porting process is available online at: www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/transfer-details.

Until 30 June, customers that bring their mobile number from another network to 2degrees will receive $10 top up credit.

ENDS

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