NTC mulls landline portability

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) intends to look into the possibility of number portability for fixed-line customers in the country, following the introduction of mobile number portability late last month.

While there are still no concrete plans for number portability for landline or fixed lines, NTC deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the idea is being considered.

“Congress opted to limit the number portability to mobile. There are only around I guess, four million fixed-line subscribers compared to 150 million subscribers of mobile market,” Cabarios said.

“But we are considering, trying to see whether there is a need for number portability to be used in the landline market,” he said.

Similar to mobile number portability or MNP, fixed-line number portability once implemented will allow customers to switch providers while retaining their telephone number. Many countries globally already have fixed-line number porting in place, with Malaysia expected to follow suit by the end of next year.

At present, there are two players in the country’s fixed-line market – PLDT and Globe.

As for the mobile market, there are currently three providers – Smart Communications, Globe, and new player Dito Telecommunity.

The NTC was mandated to implement nationwide mobile number portability and promulgate its rules and regulation with the signing of Republic Act 11202 or the “Mobile Number Portability Act” into law on Feb. 8, 2019.

MNP services were officially launched on Sept. 30, enabling qualified subscribers to switch to their preferred network seamlessly without the hustle of changing their mobile number.

Since its launch, more than 1,000 subscribers have so far successfully ported to their new networks, according to Melanie Manuel, general manager of Telecommunications Connectivity Inc., the joint venture company of Dito, Globe and Smart.

Cabarios said MNP’s impact in the telco market, however, could be seen in the next three months.

“Will it introduce or enhance competition in the mobile market or not? Will the number of subscribers applying for this service increase or not? So we will see the effect in the next three months,” he said.

For Richard Mathew Dimagiba, vice president and head for postpaid marketing at Smart, the MNP would usher in “fierce competition” among the three existing players.

“You will now see a very intense competition among the different brands and the operators on who will be able to provide the most relevant products for that market,” he said.

“You will see advancements in terms of network service. It’s going to be fasttracked now. Who provides the better service, who provides the most advanced, nation-widest, or most seamless coverage and experience,” Dimagiba said.