The Ministry of Digital Economy has clarified that media reports claiming that Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows customers to switch to another mobile network while keeping the same phone number, will be introduced in September are false.
The Ministry said the reports were based on a misinterpretation of a statement made by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne in Parliament on August 6.
The Ministry clarified that September is not the month in which the MNP service will commence. Instead, the end of September is only the deadline given to the relevant telecommunications operators to reach a final agreement on the implementation of the service.
If the stakeholders fail to reach an agreement by the end of September, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka will take steps to issue a regulatory order in accordance with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act and licence conditions.
If an agreement cannot be reached among the operators, the Government will intervene to introduce Mobile Number Portability (Mobile NP) first, before Fixed Number Portability (Fixed NP), as the mobile service would benefit a larger number of consumers.
The Government remains committed to making the facility available to the public as soon as possible while protecting consumer rights. The specific date for the official launch of the MNP service will be formally announced at a later date, the Ministry said.
