TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS LIME and Digicel say they are working towards implementing the number portability system amidst optimism by the Government about meeting the May deadline.
On Tuesday, LIME told the Jamaica Observer that it is working with “technology suppliers and other key stakeholders to meet the implementation date” for the system that will allow customers to switch providers and keep their numbers.
“The processes are yet to be finalised as the Number Portability Working Group is working on them. LIME is fully participating in the process,” said in a written response to queries by the Observer.
Similarly, Digicel – in a written response to a query about its state of readiness – stated that it “has been working with the Government as well as the other telecoms operators for over two years to ensure that the implementation of number portability is a success in Jamaica”.
“Digicel is committed to ensuring that the customer experience is at the forefront of number portability and that customers and all stakeholders involved benefit from the process. We are working assiduously to ensure that all the relevant systems are in place in order to meet the deadline announced by the minister [of technology],” the telecoms company emphasised.
While announcing yet another new deadline for the system in June 2014, State Minister for Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson acknowledged that the Government could still have a challenge meeting the May 2015 target.
At the time, he said LIME had indicated that its “legacy systems” would make it more challenging to implement number portability for both mobile and landlines while Digicel and FLOW said they would not go ahead unless there would be full portability. But Robinson told the Observer that since then, LIME had indicated that it will be ready to move ahead with portability for both fixed and mobile lines.
Meanwhile, with two months remaining before the system takes effect, the junior minister disclosed that a bidder has been selected to provide the interface between the telecoms companies, but that the entity wished to remain unnamed until the ministry has formally issued its licence.
“They (the bidder) have been in touch with the ministry. They are aware of the technical specifications… this is not somebody coming in green to the process,” Robinson disclosed, adding that the telecoms providers have been working in earnest over the past year, even with LIME’s recent acquisition of Flow, to meet the May target.
In January, Robinson had said the successful applicant, which was chosen from a pool of five that responded to the OUR’s request for proposals, is expected to begin working immediately with the telecoms companies to integrate their systems.
Number portability is aimed at giving users the opportunity, which they now do not have, to go between providers based on service quality and price. Currently, in order to retain a long-standing number, for example, some users may opt to remain with a provider despite being displeased with the service, or changes to their services. (Jamaica Observer)