The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) plans to introduce number portability for mobile and fixed lines, enabling consumers to change service providers while retaining their numbers from October this year.

The TRCSL recently concluded the public consultations for the implementation of number portability it adopted early this year.

TRCSL Director General Oshada Senanayake has announced that the policy would be implemented in consultation with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, due to its success in implementing number portability in Pakistan.

The implementation of number portability has recently moved into technical discussion stage, after securing the support of all telco operators for the policy in principal.

Senanayke highlighted that number portability would significantly improve the quality of services of voice and broadband once implemented, as it empowers the consumer to have the final say.

Number portability is aimed at promoting effective competition in the telecom sector based on various concerns of subscribers, including quality of service, customer service, network coverage, tariffs, variety of services offered, etc. thereby maximising subscriber benefits.

Several South Asian nations such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have already adopted number portability.