Flow the main stumbling block to mobile number portability- Hon Fraser
Mobile number portability enables a cell phone customer to keep their phone number if they wish to change from one network carrier to another.
Hon Fraser explained that mobile number portability has already been effective in a number of countries and it is time for the Virgin Islands to join in this technological advancement.
The Dominican Republic launched mobile number portability in 2009, French West Indies in April 2006, the Cayman islands in 2012, Jamaica in June 2015 and Trinidad and Tobago in October 2016.
Not a ‘simple’ matter- Hon Vanterpool
In response to questions posed by Hon Fraser to the Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) stated that the government is in agreement with pursuing mobile number portability and intend to create a legislation to address the matter.
He further commented that the implementation of mobile number portability is not as simple as people think but the government is pursuing this new technological venture.
“It is not as simple as it sounds because it involves the carriers who have numbers that they consider specific to them, and therefore they will have to make adjustments and allow numbers to be used across carriers- the codes that they use. It is not impossible but it has implications.”
The Minister for Communications and Works assured the HoA that decisions will be made in how the government moves forward, as soon as the research is completed.
“The Ministry of Communications and Works is currently conducting research on local number portability, which includes both technical and non-technical aspects to make it functional. It also requires legislative amendment where possible; and potential cost implications. Once this research has been completed, a decision will be made to determine whether or not to pursue this initiative as a territory.”
Flow ‘the main culprit’
Honourable Fraser; however, disagreed with Honourable Vanterpool when he stated that it is not as easy as it looks.
The Third District Representative, who is credited with bringing telecommunications provider Digicel to the Virgin Islands, suggested that “it is simple; simpler than you make it sound.”
The Opposition Member then implied that Flow is the major stumbling block in the Communications and Works Minister not being able to move forward.
“The number of (phone) numbers that we have in this country, if it on a piece of paper, I could fold it up and stick it in one pocket. Big United States and most other industrialised countries are doing it. The one culprit is Flow; that’s the one culprit really. You talking about carriers.”
Hon Fraser did not give an explanation as to why he singled out Flow.
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11 Responses to “Flow the main stumbling block to mobile number portability- Hon Fraser”
All-in-all , they're still "Cable And Worthless", and they always will be.