Number Portability on Track – Paulwell
October 5, 2012The Full Story
Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, has said the Government is on track to enable number portability this financial year.
He said the process is at a "significant stage", with consultations to get underway next Thursday (Oct.18).
The discussion session will be held at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) Auditorium in New Kingston commencing at 5:00 p.m.
"We will be doing a major consultation next week that will involve the stakeholders… we want to enable Jamaicans to take their numbers across networks and we are on track to enabling that during this financial year," Mr. Paulwell said, as he addressed Jamaica House press briefing on Wednesday.
The recently passed Telecommunications (Amendment) Act 2012 empowers the Minister to impose number portability, which allows consumers to retain their telephone numbers after switching service providers.
The legislation also empowers the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to mandate a telecoms licensee to share telecommunications infrastructure and facilities, such as cell sites and towers, landing stations, and cables.
Minister Paulwell, in his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in July, said the OUR had advised that number portability can, with the co-operation of the telecoms players, become a reality within the year.