Phone number portability inches closer

The ability to take your phone number with you to a new company inched a step closer today with the Commerce Commission issuing a draft determination on portability standards and functions.

Number portability makes it easier for customers to switch phone companies by allowing customers to keep their existing numbers when changing their landline or mobile phone supplier.

The Telecommunications Carriers' Forum (TCF), made up of major phone companies, is developing a centralised database but has said it will need until April 2007 to put complete the task.

Douglas Webb, Telecommunications Commissioner with the commission, has requested the TCF bring the target date forward.

There will be a 20 working days period for the public and industry to comment on the portability standards and rules outlined in the draft determination. The standards and rules were essentially agreed by the TCF and taken on by the commission to ensure they can be enforced.

Telecom has been accused of dragging its feet on the issue of portability for years.

The commission has already issued a determination on costings of portability. It said line and cellular phone firms should split the set-up costs based on market share as measured by subscriber numbers.

- NZPA