Technology Minister Pleased with Implementation of Number Portability

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says he is delighted with the progress of the implementation of number portability in Jamaica.

Close to 200 Jamaicans successfully switched service providers after the first two days of the system’s implementation. Number portability became effective on June 22.

“In fact we have done better than we thought we would, in terms of some of the technical challenges that normally go with such implementation,” Mr. Paulwell said.

The Minister was speaking to the media at the closing ceremony for the Community-Based Landslide Risk Reduction project for the Kingston communities, held at the Altamont Court Hotel in New Kingston on June 24.

Mr. Paulwell also commended the companies for implementing the system in a “seamless way”.

“The reports are that consumers are being enabled to transfer their subscriptions from provider to provider without having to part with their numbers. We have seen, in the last two days, some 200 or so transfers taking place and we anticipate that as the public education continues, more and more persons will exercise that tremendous weapon,” Mr. Paulwell said.

With number portability, fixed line and mobile phone customers can switch networks while keeping their original phone numbers.