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UAE licensees ready to launch the Mobile Number Portability service: TRA

Starting today, December 22, 2013, UAE mobile phone subscribers will be able to retail their existing mobile phone numbers while seamlessly switching between their service providers, the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has confirmed.

The TRA has announced that that licensees, both Etisalat and du, are ready to launch the Mobile Number Portability Service in the United Arab Emirates starting today, through opening the central system for the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service.

In line with the regulatory body’s commitment to promoting greater levels of competition in the UAE mobile operator market, and improving the level of service available for consumers, the MNP service will provide consumers with the ability to choose between providers, a media statement from TRA noted.

It is considered an effective service that is intended to promote further competition in mobile communications in the UAE as the mobile phone subscribers will be able to keep their original phone numbers if they so wish.

The TRA said that it had given both operators a deadline to prepare their commercial offerings and sales channels to start with the actual transfer for subscribers’ starting Monday, December 30, 2013 at 8:00am.

And starting from December 30, 2013, subscribers will be able to switch service provider whilst keeping their existing number and the network code, a service referred to as Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

Consumers in UAE have shown great interest in buying mobile phones. Currently, the UAE has a mobile phone penetration rate of 181 per cent and a smartphone penetration rate of 73.8 per cent. There is no doubt that the availability of MNP will enhance competition in the local telecommunications market immediately.

The two licensees have met the TRA’s instructions and announced their readiness with all necessary requirements and technical procedural adjustments while the TRA has praised their great efforts to make this successful.