TRA consults on number portability implementation

The proposed regulation will require all licensed operators to allow numbers to be transferred between operators through the establishment of a central database.

TRA's General Director Mr. Alan Horne said "We consider number portability as another strategic milestone in the liberalization of Bahrain's telecommunications industry, and will serve to empower the consumers with more choice and freedom to select any operator for their fixed or mobile services. According to the draft regulation, consumers will be able to move their numbers to another operator providing similar services; in other words, mobile-to-mobile and fixed-to-fixed."

Mr. Horne went further to say "The implementation of number portability will encourage operators to improve services to keep their customers".

Commenting on the draft regulation, TRA's ICT Operations Manager Mr. Ahmed Aldoseri said "the draft regulation on number portability is the result of several months of work, and close collaboration with the industry. We encourage all interested parties to comment on the draft regulation".

Mr. Aldoseri also said: "If a consumer decides to move their number to another operator, the older operator is barred from engaging in any direct activity to persuade the consumer from moving on. We want to make sure that operators take care of all their customers all the time and not only when they make a decision to move."

The draft regulation and an explanatory document are available on TRA's website at www.tra.org.bh.