ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Sep 17, CMC – Mobile telephone customers in Antigua and Barbuda are expected to be able to change service providers while keeping their existing numbers from November 23, .
The proposed introduction of mobile number portability would allow customers to transfer between the Antigua Public Utilities company (APUA), Digicel and Flow without giving up the telephone numbers they currently use.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant provided the update during Thursday’s post-Cabinet news briefing after Cabinet received a detailed presentation on the project at its meeting on Wednesday.
A senior APUA manager and an official from the Ministry of Telecommunications appeared before Cabinet alongside a consultant involved in implementing the system.
Merchant said the process began in 2022 but has faced several technical challenges. One of the major difficulties has been connecting the different networks and operating systems used by the three telecommunications providers.
He said extensive testing and retesting have been required to ensure that customers can transfer their numbers seamlessly between providers.
The work has also required significant investment by the government and telecommunications companies, while consultants have been engaged to assist with the technical implementation.
The current schedule calls for porting tests to be completed by October 23. Further routing and end-to-end testing will then be conducted to ensure calls and other services function properly after a number is transferred.
Testing will also be extended to retail locations to ensure the process works properly when customers visit service providers to request a transfer.
Merchant said the proposed November 23 introduction date also considers Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of major Commonwealth activities during November.
The government believes the system can be implemented by the deadline based on the technical information and testing results currently available.
Mobile number portability is intended to remove one of the main obstacles customers face when considering switching providers. Customers often remain with a company because changing networks requires them to obtain a new number and notify relatives, employers, clients and other contacts.
Under the proposed system, a customer could move from Digicel to Flow, Flow to APUA or between any of the participating providers while retaining the same number.
Merchant said mobile number portability is a service the public has requested for some time and remains a government commitment.
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