OREANDA-NEWS. Four Lithuanian telecommunication companies Bitė Lietuva, Omnitel, Tele2 and TEO have established a joint not for profit organization “Numerio perkėlimas” (“Number portability”). This not for profit organization intends to participate in the public tender of Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of the Republic of Lithuania on election of number portability administrator for central database of telephone numbers.

The joint operators' undertaking was established in accordance with the best international practice, as well as in pursue of transparent and efficient provision of such service. According to the preliminary valuation by the companies, such model will allow to provide the service at significantly lower costs compared to the current rates.

The current company ensuring the number portability service will continue to provide this service till the end of 2015. The winner of the tender on new database administrator is expected to be announced later this year.

The winner of CRA tender will have to ensure the right of customers of telecommunications companies to retain telephone number without restriction when changing the public telephone service provider, service location and method for five years starting from 2016. It is expected that “Numerio perkėlimas” will provide this service jointly with the selected strategic partner, having an expertise in such type of projects.

The winner of CRA tender at his own expense shall create a central database, administer it, co-ordinate its activities, manage the centralized process of number portability and provide other services related to the administration of the central database to providers of public communications networks and public telephone services.