Phone number portability to stay

Media release

Issued 19 December 2016
Release no. 68

Phone number portability to stay

The Commerce Commission has decided to continue to regulate number portability for both local and mobile telephone numbers for another five years. Number portability enables a customer to keep the same telephone number despite switching telecommunications provider. The regulation limits the time gap in service and the price the telecommunications companies pay each other for the switchover.

Telecommunications Commissioner Dr Stephen Gale said that users support continued controls and the industry is comfortable with the existing number portability regulations.

"The ability of New Zealanders to keep their phone number when switching providers has been regulated for nearly a decade now and is a service consumers have embraced. Telecommunications companies have also recognised the benefits number portability brings to competition by removing a disincentive for consumers to switch to their offering,” Dr Gale said.

The final determination includes some minor changes to improve the efficiency and workability of number portability. “The changes we had proposed in our November draft determination, including ensuring consumers can switch providers on a Saturday and tidying up some terms regarding network updates, have been carried through to our final determination released today.”

A copy of the final determination can be found on our website.

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