Mobile competition stimulates porting of numbers

AUCKLAND, 18 December 2009

Mobile competition stimulates mass porting of numbers

New Zealand mobile provider 2degrees can reveal that it has reached 42,500 mobile ports since it launched in August this year. That equates to approximately 8,500 mobile numbers transferred across each month since 2degrees burst onto the telecommunications scene to offer New Zealanders a fairer deal.

Mobile number portability gives consumers the ability to keep their existing mobile phone number if they change telecommunications providers.

2degrees CEO, Eric Hertz says, “The dramatic increase in the number of mobile ports is demonstrated by the fact that, prior to our launch, the average per month was only 3,501 numbers.

“Since 2degress entered the market in August, mobile porting has increased by 410%, hitting a staggering monthly average of 14,377, and 70% of these numbers have been transferred over to 2degrees. Of our 42,500 mobile ports, 85% have moved to 2degrees from Vodafone,” Mr Hertz said.

Although mandated in the Telecommunications Act 2001, number porting only first became available in April 2007 following protracted negotiations between the Commerce Commission and incumbent telcos.

“Even though number porting has been available for more than two years, more than one third of all numbers ported to date has occurred in the last four months since we launched,” said Mr Hertz.

The total number of mobile numbers ported in the 2 years and 4 months leading up to the arrival of 2degrees into the New Zealand market was 98,028, at a monthly average of 3,501. The total for the four months from August through to November this year, coinciding with the first four months of real competition offered by 2degrees, is 57,508, at a monthly average to 14,377 mobile numbers ported. Therefore, 37% of all numbers ported since April 2007 has occurred since the launch of 2degrees.

How to keep your mobile phone number

Mobile customers have the ability to keep their mobile phone number when they move to another mobile company. This is called number porting or number transfer.

The porting process with 2degrees is all done online, which is unlike the porting process offered by other mobile phone service providers.

Once a customer has activated their SIM, they simply need to login to the “Your 2degrees” section of the 2degrees website. This section enables customers to manage their account, check their usage, top-up their account, select a new 022 number or port their existing mobile number to 2degrees.

Once the customer has completed the request their number will be ported over and working on the 2degrees network within one working day.

To find out more about number porting visit: www.2degreesmobile.co.nz

ENDS

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