154 million mobile customers worldwide have ported their numbers

The Telecommunications Management Group, a US-based telecomms consultancy, says 154 million mobile phone customers in 48 countries worldwide have kept their mobile telephone number when changing networks. Their new report about mobile number portability (MNP) points out that China and India have yet to introduce MNP - and says that statistically every mobile phone customer in Hong Kong has ported their mobile number at least once. [Press release via PRNewsWire]

UK Porting group suspends operations

UKPorting, the UK telecommunications industry group that was working to speed up the transfer of mobile phone numbers between networks, has decided to suspend its operations. The decision follows last week's judgement by the Competition Appeal Tribunal that said regulator Ofcom hadn't taken enough care with its proposals. Ofcom says it's disappointed with UKPorting's decision, which was taken after at least one of the networks involved decided to withdraw from the group. [Source: ZDNet.co.uk]

Ofcom's number porting plan defeated... for now

Vodafone has won a court case against telecomms regulator Ofcom. The Competition Appeals Tribunal has said that Ofcom must reconsider its decision to introduce a two-hour Mobile Number Portability limit next year. The CAT ruled that insufficient analysis and consultation had taken place, cost estimates were inaccurate and the benefit to customers had not been sufficiently demonstrated. Ofcom says it won't be deterred, although the proposed September 2009 date may now slip. [Sources: Mobile News; CAT pdf document]

UK number portability group publishes first report

UKPorting, the industry body that is working towards the two-hour mobile number porting time mandated by Ofcom for September 2009, has published its first report. It says the project is going well but it lacks resources, which could affect its ability to complete its work on time. Future updates will be published monthly.

Vodafone challenges Ofcom over number portability

Vodafone is taking Ofcom to court over the regulators plans to speed up mobile number portability (MNP) - the ability to move your mobile phone number to another network. The current time limit is being cut to two days this April, but Ofcom wants it cut to two hours from 2009. [Source: TimesOnline.co.uk]