Digicel urges gov't to speed up framework for number portability

After losing a court battle challenging the authority of the state-owned Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to set mobile termination rates, telecommunications firm Digicel is now urging the government to fast track the framework to allow number portability.

In a release this afternoon Digicel’s CEO Mark Linehan said the Government and the OUR should act swiftly on promises to put in place the necessary working groups and structures to make local number portability a reality in Jamaica.

Linehan says it is important for the Government to ensure that the issue of local number portability also applies to fixed lines and numbers so that a level playing field may exist across the entire Jamaican telecoms landscape.

He argues that the situation exists in other markets across the region and cautioned that, while the benefits of local number portability are clear, the implementation needs a concerted effort by the industry and the Government.

The call by Digicel coincides with the implementation of the new $5 per minute interim mobile termination rate set by the OUR.

That rate will be paid by telecommunications companies to each other.

The OUR stipulated the new rates following amendments to the Telecommunication Act passed in parliament earlier this year.

On Thursday Digicel lost its bid to challenge the OUR over the decision to set the rate.

Digicel had said that it would appeal the ruling, but has decided it will back down from the case.