Cayman’s five telephone companies met for the first time last week to begin thrashing out details of a system by which consumers can change their service provider, yet retain their telephone number.
Called ‘number portability’, the system enables consumers who are unhappy with their telephone company to move to a new one but keep their old number, without penalties or service disruptions.
Number portability has been credited globally with boosting competition, reducing prices, bringing new services to market faster and forcing a wholesale re-examination of business strategies.
A seven-month Information and Communications Technology Authority study of number portability that ended 29 March endorsed the concept, citing its numerous benefits as making such a system almost indispensable.
The study called for creation of a panel of Cayman’s service providers to examine the costs of portability and decide how best to implement the system.
Thursday’s meeting, chaired by the authority, marked the inaugural gathering of the panel, and although no surprises ensued, the process, said ICTA General Counsel and Head of Licensing Greg van Koughnett, is under way.
‘We looked at the various options available and how best to proceed,’ Mr. van Koughnett said.
The companies agreed to create internal plans for portability, then meet again in early August.
Mr. van Koughnett downplayed expectations, however, cautioning that the process was likely to be time consuming and subject to interruption.
‘Even if we do meet in the next 60 days and we make the decision on which way to go, and then, even if the (authority) says yes, that means only that we are (meeting) to evaluate the best way,’ he said.
‘Then, if we decide the best way, then we go back to the (authority), and they say either yes or no. Then we go back to the players to actually get the work done.’
He declined to speculate when the process might be complete, but said long-range planning was vulnerable to sudden demands or emergencies.
He repeated previous warnings to expect delays.
‘Things always take a little longer than expected,’ he said.
Related Videos
