The Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) has taken several measures in the recent past for the implementation of the Number Portability Service for mobile phones soon.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) enables mobile phone users to retain a mobile telephone number when changing the mobile network operator.
According to the Daily News, a TRCSL spokesman has outlined the steps taken in the recent past to enable the introduction of the new service,
- Public consultations are underway as part of steps to make arrangements to provide the service to customers.
- A plan has been prepared in consultation with the companies that provide telephone services in Sri Lanka.
- Discussions with all telephone service companies were held regarding an appropriate technical model and the company ‘Lanka Number Portability Services’ was established with the participation of all fixed and mobile operators for the operation and administration of the service.
- TRCSL granted the necessary licence to the above company for the operation of this service.
- The Attorney General’s Department has given the necessary approvals for the rules and guidelines set up for the operation of this service in coordination with the landline and mobile phone companies that provide telephone services in this country.
- Lanka Number Portability Services has started the procurement process to select a suitable organisation to provide the relevant technical system and has completed the technical evaluation.
- All financial evaluations will be completed by January next year.
In August 2020, the TRCSL took preliminary measures to introduce the number portability service to Sri Lanka, a service that enables consumers to switch to service providers of their choice without having to change their existing numbers.
The company named ‘Lanka Portability’ was formed to include all telecommunication companies and TRCSL approval for mobile number portability was granted in October 2021.
The TRCSL also laid the framework for implementing number portability and full portability, which includes fixed services, in Sri Lanka in 2022, while in 2023 it also announced legal clearance for telecommunication service providers to implement number portability in Sri Lanka