Mobile number portability seen to attract more telcos

MANILA, Philippines — The Lifetime Cellphone Number Act, earlier signed by President Duterte, could encourage third and even fourth telecommunication companies to operate in the country, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian said the newly enacted law, also known as mobile number portability (MNP), will spare Filipinos from the hassle of transferring hundreds or even thousands of contacts in case the cellphone holders decide to change their cellphone subscriptions.

“The portability can even encourage 3rd or even 4th telcos to operate in the country. Like Hong Kong, which is a small county, but has five telcos,” Gatchalian said in an interview over DWIZ.

President Duterte signed into law the measure which would allow consumers to keep their cellphone numbers for life, even if they change service providers or subscription plans.

Gatchalian later said that given the expected entry of new players in the local telecommunications industry, cellphone numbers should become an extension of every subscriber’s so-called digital identity, “so that consumer loyalty will not be determined by the fear of losing their numbers but through the dynamism of competition among players.”

He also acknowledged the amendment of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, which removes the interconnection fee, which at present cost 50 centavos per connection.