The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Number portability could create an ‘explosion’ of competition in the mobile sector, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) acting chief executive said yesterday, describing it as a “critical enabler” to the sector.

Stephen Bereaux told Tribune Business that mobile number portability is expected to begin tomorrow, after technical glitches pushed the latest start date back two days from April 25.

Number portability is a process that will give the country’s 315,000-plus mobile subscribers the ability to change service providers without having to change their telephone number. 

“People are very attached to their numbers, and their ability to keep their number if they decide to switch providers is a key enabler to completion,” Mr Bereaux said.

“Competition only works when the providers know that if they don’t deliver, their best customers will leave. If people are stuck to a number and can’t take their number when switching providers, that is a barrier to full competition.”

Mr Bereaux described the introduction of number portability in the Bahamas  as a “significant milestone” and a “very signficant step”.

He added: “The information that we have suggests that competition in the mobile sector has moved along along well and met expectations. I think most users will attest to the significant benefits they are already receiving.

“The range of services being offered is also improving, so there are a lot of benefits that competition has already created. We’re confident that with number portability we will continue to see an explosion of competition. I believe that going forward we will have more competition in all of the electronic communications sectors.”

Mr Bereaux praised both BTC and Aliv for their co-operation towards making mobile number portability possible.

The Bahamas has benefitted from number portability in respect to fixed telephone numbers since December 2013. Mobile number portability was supposed to launch on February 14, 2017, but this was pushed back to March and then April.