What is Number Portability? How it’s Importance in Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Landscape

The Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulatory Commission announced in 2020 that it would be possible to keep an existing phone number when switching between mobile phone service networks, a service known as Number Portability (NP) in Sri Lanka.

Why Number Portability Matters

Number portability is a crucial feature in modern telecommunications, offering significant benefits to consumers and promoting healthy competition among service providers. It allows users to retain their phone numbers when changing from one network operator to another, eliminating the inconvenience of informing contacts about number changes and updating personal and professional records.

Global Adoption and Success

Many countries worldwide have successfully implemented number portability, including the United States, countries in the European Union, India, and neighboring Pakistan. These implementations have generally led to improved customer satisfaction and increased competition in the telecommunications market.

Key Advantages of Number Portability

1. Consumer Choice: Users can freely choose their preferred service provider without the fear of losing their number.
2. Increased Competition: Operators are incentivized to improve their services and pricing to retain and attract customers.
3. Reduced Switching Costs: Customers can change providers without incurring the costs associated with changing phone numbers.
4. Business Continuity: Businesses can change providers without risking loss of contact with their clients.
5. Improved Service Quality: The threat of easily losing customers encourages operators to maintain high service standards.

Progress in Sri Lanka

Due to renewed discussion about this Number Portability service on social media in recent days, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka has published a note on their website detailing the progress of steps taken to provide this service.

The steps taken to implement the Number Portability service are as follows:

1. Initially, the Commission held discussions with operators and created a plan for implementing the NP service.
2. A public opinion poll was conducted in 2021, seeking views from all relevant stakeholders.
3. The appropriate technical model was then decided upon in consultation with telecom operators.
4. A company called Lanka Number Portability Services (Guarantee) Limited (LNPS) was formed with the participation of all fixed and mobile operators for the operation and administration of the NP service.
5. TRCSL has already granted the license required for the operation of LNPS.
6. The approval of the Attorney General’s Department has been obtained for the NP Rules and Guidelines, which were prepared with the participation and agreement of TRCSL and Telecom Operators.
7. LNPS has initiated a procurement process to select a suitable organization to provide the technical system. We have been informed that the technical evaluation has been completed, and the financial evaluation is ongoing, expected to be completed by January 2025.
8. After LNPS completes the entire procurement process, selects a suitable technical system provider, and installs the system, the NP service is expected to be launched.

Anticipated Launch and Impact

We can anticipate that this service will be available in Sri Lanka at the beginning of next year. The introduction of number portability is expected to significantly enhance consumer rights in the telecommunications sector, fostering a more competitive and customer-centric market. As seen in other countries, this move is likely to drive innovation, improve service quality, and potentially lead to more attractive pricing and service packages for Sri Lankan consumers.

The successful implementation of number portability will mark a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s telecommunications industry, aligning it with global best practices and enhancing the overall user experience for mobile subscribers across the country.