Guyanese can keep phone numbers, change providers from this month

Last Updated on Saturday, 1 February 2025, 20:04 by Writer

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Saturday announced that from later this month, cellphone and fixed line subscribers in Guyana could keep their existing numbers but change the companies they are subscribed with.

PUC said the implementation of number portability in Guyana would be possible from February 10, 2025.

The PUC says subscribers desirous of changing their service providers will be required to visit the retail store of the preferred service provider and request the porting of their numbers by completing the relevant porting forms.

A valid form of identification is required. Mobile porting typically takes one business day while fixed line porting is expected to take five business days.

For further information on the complete porting process and for answers to frequently asked questions, subscribers may visit the PUC’s website at http://www.puc.org.gy and its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pucgy. Alternatively, subscribers may contact the Commission during business hours at telephone numbers 226-7042/ 227-2182/336-6077 and via WhatsApp at 623-3222/ 624-6000 for further details.

The PUC said that transformative service would foster competition in the telecommunications sector, offering consumers greater freedom to choose providers and marks a pivotal step in enhancing consumer choice and driving innovation in the telecommunications industry.

The regulator says this milestone is a direct result of the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector on October 5, 2020, and the subsequent issuance of the Telecommunications (Commencement of Number Portability Obligations) Order on July 1, 2021, by Prime Minister, Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips.

In line with the Prime Minister’s directive, the PUC said it was tasked with ensuring the smooth implementation of number portability, established by the Number Portability Working Group (NPWG) in August 2021.

This group, chaired by the Commission, includes representatives from the telecommunications service providers and the telecommunications agency.

The NPWG has held weekly meetings to oversee the various testing phases that are critical to the service’s success.A dedicated technical subgroup, comprising project managers and technical leads from the service providers, was also formed to address specific challenges and ensure seamless system integration across all networks.

The PUC said key accomplishments of the NPWG included the development and approval of the Business Rules, which outlines the operational guidelines for number portability and the contracting of PXS B.V, a clearinghouse provider from the Netherlands, which has been licensed by the telecommunications agency to provide number portability administration services in Guyana.

The PUC and the telecommunications service providers have been engaged in numerous technical testing scenarios to ensure a seamless transition for subscribers and that all technical aspects of the service are functional as intended when it goes ‘live’ on February 10, 2025. The end result of this is to successfully implement number portability, a service that will be beneficial to all users of telecommunications services in Guyana.