Mobile and fixed line telephone operators in T&T have signed an agreement Porting XS for provision of service provider number portability. This means customers will be able to change their service providers without having to change their telephone numbers.
As a result of the agreement, the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has set a deadline of March 31 for implementation of mobile number portability while implementation for fixed lines will take place no later than September 30.
The agency embarked on implementation of local number in 2010 with the publication of its Framework for the Implementation of Number Portability. Since then TATT has sought to have all operators have their networks suitably configured to implement number portability on their fixed and mobile networks.
PortingXS of Holland will provide the centralized database required for implementation of number portability. Signing of the contract between Porting XS and local service providers took place recently at TATT’s office in Barataria.
Speaking at that signing, Cris Seecheran, TATT’s CEO said, “I wish to take this opportunity to thank all our service providers for the tremendous effort that they have all taken in the preparation for the implementation of number portability in T&T. I wish also to thank Porting XS for the role that they will play in the success of this initiative that will enhance the customer experience and further the competitive landscape in telecommunications in T&T.”
Signing on behalf of their companies were Brian Collins, managing director, Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited; Fiachra Groarke, chief operations officer, Digicel (T&T) Limited; Narissa Mustapha, general manager, Lisa Communications Limited; Peter Gillettem, chairman, Open Telecom; Charles Carter, EVP Legal, Regulatory, Carrier Services and Corporate Secretary, TSTT; Kirk Rudder, manager, Value Added Services, Massy Communications Limited; and Ronald Vlasman, CEO, Porting XS, BV.
