Guyana inches closer towards phone number portability

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, 7:25 by Denis Chabrol

The way is now almost clear for Guyanese to keep their existing phone numbers and decide whether to change the phone companies, the three telecommunications providers and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) said.

“The operators are about to enter a final testing period before the launch of number portability,” the said in a joint statement.

As part of the launch process, the PUC, GTT, Digicel, and ENet promised Guyanese subscribers that they intend to educate and inform them about the necessary processes, obligations and allay any potential concerns.

The regulator and the telecoms providers said Number Portability would provide consumers with the freedom to switch telecommunications providers while retaining their existing telephone numbers.

“The implementation of Number Portability is indeed a transformative step towards enhancing the telecommunications experience for all Guyanese,” they said in a statement.

GTT, Digicel and ENet said they are committed to seamless number portability and would in the coming days begin informing the public how the process would work. “Each company will provide comprehensive information and support to guide consumers
throughout this transition,” they and the PUC said.

Describing this final testing phase as a “significant milestone” in the evolution of telecommunications services in Guyana, GTT, Digicel, ENet and the PUC said Number Portability would empower subscribers and businesses by putting them in control of their telecommunications choices, and this will herald a new era of innovation and customer-centric service within the telecommunications industry.

The PUC, as the regulatory authority, said it would continue to oversee the implementation of Number Portability and the Commission will ensure that the process adheres to established guidelines and standards, whilst performing its usual mandate to balance the interests of the consumer and that of the telecommunications Service Providers to ensure that their financial viability and competitiveness are maintained.

The utility regulator had in May, 2023 said that number portability would have become a reality in Guyana in July, 2023.

The Netherlands-headquartered Porting XS is the number portability clearinghouse service provider of administrative services to the service providers and manager of the central database with telephone numbers and technically manage which numbers may be ported upon the request of the consumer.