|
|
 |
Number
Portability
(posted November 2003)
|
The MCA is proposing phone number
portability through a consultation paper issued recently.
We agree that this will have several benefits amongst them
those elicited by the MCA:
¤
elimination of the need to inform other parties of the
number change, changing stationery and other signage;
¤ the
elimination of the need for callers to consult directory
enquiries and/or change entries in their address books or
computer systems;
¤ increased
competition, with significant benefits for all users, by
lowering the cost to users of switching operator or
service provider.
It is being proposed that there should be
two types of portability:
Operator portability - the end user
retains the telephone number when changing the service
provider;
Location portability - the end user
retains the telephone number when moving from one locality
to another.
One should note that location portability
may have a disadvantage. With location portability, if a
subscriber from Valletta moves to Mosta or Zejtun, he
retains the same number. One advantage of the present
system which at times is of help to end users is that the
third and fourth digit gives you an idea of the locality.
This would be lost with location portability.
There may be other disadvantages, though we
believe that the advantages are greater. End–users should
give their opinions so that if there are disadvantages,
changes would take the comments on board, before being
implemented. That is why consultation is fruitful.
|
|
