The Philippines’ present mobile network operators (MNOs): DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom, and Smart Communications have formed a joint venture company called Telecommunications Connectivity, Inc. (TCI) to enable number porting services in compliance with Republic Act 11202 — Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA).
Set to start its commercial operations on 30 September 2021, TCI will act as the implementing arm for all activities between mobile service providers and the mobile number portability service provider or clearinghouse.
“The entire telco industry and the Philippine government are pushing forward with the same goal of providing Filipinos with better telco services. Aside from encouraging healthier competition amongst the players, MNPA also grants Filipinos the freedom to switch to their preferred mobile service provider seamlessly and conveniently. Na walang alinlangan,” according to Atty. Adel Tamano, who will serve as the Treasurer of TCI. Atty. Tamano is also the Chief Administrative Officer of DITO Telecommunity.
Syniverse, a Florida-based technology company, was chosen by the Filipino MNOs to be the mobile number portability service provider some twenty-two (22) months ago, following a technical and commercial evaluation. The technology company promises to bring in its technical infrastructure to fulfill its primary function as a clearinghouse for the three (03) telcos and to ensure the smooth implementation of the number porting services.
Melanie A. Manuel, the former Vice-President & Head, Domestic Carrier Relations of PLDT has been named TCI’s Interim General Manager. Manuel holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Santo Tomas, and under her belt is a vast telco work experience to include Domestic Carrier Relations, International and Domestic Settlements, Settlement Systems, IS Business Analysis, and Human Resource Management.
The TCI will be coterminous with the implementation of mobile number portability — for as long as the law requires mobile number portability, the joint venture company will continue to exist for the same reasons it was organized. The newly-formed company will be operating on a limited manpower complement.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the principal author of the MNPA said, “What we want is for the telcos to freely compete, make it feasible for interoperability and the end goal is to drive the prices down and provide better services. One’s cellphone number has become almost akin to maintaining one’s digital identity.”
The senator wants to see the telcos stick to their commitment to putting in place by 30 September 2021 the mobile number portability services. Gatchalian earlier called out the telcos for the delay in the implementation of MNPA which the law provided to be in place as early as January 2020, following the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in June 2019.
The senator even issued a stern warning saying that telcos will be meted out with penalties as much as PHP1M fine and revocation of their franchises if they would repeatedly and unjustly refuse to implement the portability within the period prescribed by the law.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a global practice that enables mobile phone customers to keep their number even when they switch networks or change their subscription from postpaid to prepaid and vice versa. The process itself is free of charge.
MNP helps promote consumer welfare by fostering the freedom to choose and to respond to quality, price, and other relevant considerations without consumers having to change their mobile numbers whenever they change mobile service providers or subscription plans. According to TCI, porting out and in of mobile numbers is FREE for the subscribers.
THe MNPA ensures that mobile phone users can keep their numbers even when they transfer to another service provider, or when they switch their subscription from postpaid to prepaid, or vice-versa.
To port within networks, one needs to meet the following requirements:
- An active SIM and the requestor is the assignee of the mobile number to be ported;
- No remaining balance from your previous bill (for postpaid);
- No existing court prohibitions; and
- No pending transfer of ownership.
During the virtual launch of TCI last 22 July 2021, Manuel said that requests for porting out will be done by the subscribers by sending an SMS to the dedicated mobile service number 5050. If all requirements are met, the process shall be done within forty-eight (48) hours.
Unlike earlier implementations of MNP, the mobile business has grown in complexity because of the vast array of service offerings and customization that are attached to a mobile number, which may not easily be unbundled when moving to another service provider. The three operators also have different channels for topping up prepaid loads and differ in systems which greatly affect interoperability.
The TCI operators have so far invested a total of PHP120M and are expected that they will spend more because, under the Mobile Number Portability law, the service is free of charge for the customer.