Metro Manila – You don’t have to change your number anymore even if you switch to another mobile service provider beginning Sept. 30.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said telco companies committed to fully implement by then the Republic Act No. 11202 or the Mobile Number Portability Act.
NTC Deputy Director Engr. Edgardo Cabarios told in a Senate hearing Wednesday that the measure’s commercial launch was supposed to be within the first three months of 2021.
The coronavirus pandemic, however, delayed all their plans.
Telco giants Smart, Globe, and new player DITO earlier agreed to implement the porting platform.
The firms formed a consortium called Telecommunications Connectivity, which will conduct an interoperability testing by June.
Under the act, you only have to send a so-called porting application if you want to switch to another provider.
This means you can still retain your number for free.
The measure also applies if you’re switching from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa.
Telcos also can’t lock-in mobile devices to their own network.
CNN PHILIPPINES