Faster mobile phone number transfers

Ofcom has confirmed that, subject to the outcome of a further short consultation, consumers will be able to transfer their existing mobile phone number to a new provider in just one working day rather than the current two days.

In addition, the Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) that consumers need to switch provider and keep their number will in future be issued immediately or within a maximum of two hours by text message. The time and way in which PACs are issued currently varies considerably between providers, some only issue PACs by letter, which can take several days to arrive.

Following a six week consultation on legal implementation and timing of the proposal, Ofcom expects these changes to come into effect in the first half of 2011.

Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards, said "Our research shows that over 70 per cent of consumers want to keep their mobile number when they switch providers. Reducing the time it takes to transfer a mobile number to one working day, and enabling consumers to obtain a PAC quickly, means consumers will be able to switch provider more easily without the costs or inconvenience of changing their number."

Consumer switching project

In August 2009 Ofcom consulted on a number of options to improve mobile number porting for consumers, including possible recipient-led processes. The consultation responses highlighted that there are a number of detailed and complex issues that need to be considered and that it would not be appropriate to consider mobile in isolation from other communications services.

Therefore Ofcom has decided that the consideration of recipient-led mobile number porting options will be aligned with Ofcom's wider consumer switching project. The review of consumer switching aims to ensure that there are no undue barriers to switching now or in the future. Ofcom expects to issue a consultation later this year setting out its programme of research and its initial views on appropriate switching processes.

The statement and further consultation can be found in Related Items and closes on 13 May 2010.