Companies Pledge Support for Number Portability

The island’s major telephony providers have pledged their full support for the Government’s roll-out of the Number Portability initiative, scheduled to take effect on May 31.

This commitment was given at a special media and stakeholder number portability workshop, held on May 13 at the Courtleigh Hotel, in New Kingston.

Number portability means that consumers who use wireless and fixed line telephones will be able to transfer their telephone numbers from one provider to another as of May 31.

Director of Customer Solutions at Digicel, Patrick King, said the company is ready for the May 31 roll-out and that members of staff have been trained to deal with any challenge that may arise.

For her part, Corporate Communications Manager at FLOW, Naomi Francis, said as a fixed line service provider, Flow would continue to provide improved service to its customers when number portability is rolled out.

Head of Corporate Communications at LIME, Elon Parkinson, said the company is committed to the roll-out, noting that testing is currently being carried out to meet the May 31 roll-out.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who delivered the keynote address at the workshop, said he is pleased with the collaboration of the stakeholders leading up to the May 31 timeline.

Mr. Paulwell informed that a licence has been granted to Porting Access PV, to ensure that the new system works.

“Their role will improve the management and co-ordination of all activities relating to the central database and the central order handling system, which are the key components in supporting number portability,” he said.

The Minister noted that arrangements are being finalised for the establishment of co-location and the sharing of facilities by service providers.