The incumbent operators in the Philippines, Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, have joined forces with newcomer DITO Telecommunity to set up a new firm focused on mobile number portability.
The move is in line with the government’s Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Act. The companies selected US-based Syniverse as the MNP provider for the new clearinghouse firm, which will be funded via investment from the three operators.
Local media reported that MNP implementation will be “contingent upon the completion of integration and interoperability tests of the clearinghouse facilities with the separate multi-vendor systems of the mobile operators.”
Syniverse stated that it believes the integration period will be “no later than 18 months from setting up of the support mechanism. In addition, porting services shall be free of charge to the customers.”
