Ofcom sets industry deadline for two hour mobile number porting

Ofcom has set new rules making it easier for consumers to keep their mobile number when they switch providers. Under the new rules, consumers will be able to receive calls using their existing number within 2 hours of moving to a new mobile network (down from 5 days).

These rules will make it quicker and easier for consumers to keep their number, thereby strengthening competition and consumer convenience. It will also help protect consumers from the risk of losing calls if their old providers’ network fails.

The move follows Ofcom’s earlier decision to reduce mobile number porting lead times from 5 days to 2 days from 1 April 2008. Two hour transfers for mobile numbers must now be implemented by 1 September 2009.

In addition, industry will be obliged to ensure that the new porting process includes the necessary levels of protection for consumers.

Database to deliver further improvements.

Ofcom is also requiring industry to co-operate to create a common database to handle calls and to pave the way for more efficient call routing. Ofcom’s consultation considered whether a database (which will reduce total costs and benefit consumers) would occur without regulation but concluded that targeted regulation was a better outcome for consumers.

A database will also ensure that consumers are not affected by problems with their old network, after they have ported their number. The new database will make it possible to route calls to ported numbers directly to the new provider’s network without the need for the call to travel over the previous network. The database will remove dependency on the previous network.

Ofcom has updated General Condition 18 to implement the new policy and require communication providers to make the changes necessary.

Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards said “Consumers deserve a quick and easy process for switching while retaining their number. These measures will promote competition in the UK mobile market and act directly in the consumers’ interest. Our new rules set tough but achievable deadlines to put new systems in place and I look to the industry to implement them effectively”.