Number Portability is the facility that makes it possible for consumers to retain their telephone number when they change provider.
Provision of Number Portbility by communications providers "as soon as it is reasonably practicable" and "on reasonable terms" is a legal requirement under the General Conditions of Entitlement (GC18)
During 2007 Ofcom has requitred a number of changes to the arrangements for porting aimed at improving competition and the customer experience.
In its statement of July 2007, Ofcom mandated the creation of a common database to enable direct routing of calls to ported numbers and to reduce mobile number port lead times to 2 working days.
Ofcom is currently consulting on proposals to require implementation and population of the dtabase by the end of 2008, the implementation of direct routing for ported mobile numbers by September 2009, direct routing of ported fixed numbers by the end of 2012 and near instant porting of mobile numbers by September 2009.
In order to faciliate the changes, Ofcom has proposed the creation of a legal entity to be known as UK Porting to be responsible for the implementation and ongoing management of the new database.
Ofcom provides further details on the timeline for creation and population of the new database which can be found in a further statement issued on 29th November. Click here to download a copy.
FCS has recognised the importance of the issue for members across a number of sectors and is setting up the FCS Number Portability Workgroup to respond to Ofcom's proposals and to liaise with the new body. The group will include representatioves from the FCS Numbering and VoIP Groups, Mobile 200 and FSPA.