OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2015. In the two years since number portability was launched, more than 90,7 thousand people used this service. Over 82,7 thousand or 91% of the total ported numbers were ported within mobile networks and about 8 thousand – in fixed networks. According to the data of the National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI), in two years over 1,1% of the total numbering resources assigned by ANRCETI to electronic communications providers have been ported.

The number portability service was launched in Moldova in July 2013. This service is available in mobile networks, with effect from July 1, 2013 and in fixed networks – from July 31, 2013. Practice shows that the service became an effective instrument for ensuring the freedom of choice of telephone users and for enhancing the competition between providers on this market, particularly on mobile market. Once this process was launched, the phone users’ freedom of choice and their ability of negotiating with providers increased, a factor that caused the latter make extra efforts to keep their subscribers and attract new customers through more attractive offers.

Statistics shows that during the timeframe concerned, a monthly average of over 3,4 thousand mobile and 330 fixed telephone numbers were ported. The half-year average for mobile numbers was 20,7 thousand, for fixed numbers – almost 2 thousand. Biggest quantity of mobile numbers – over 5,5 thousand – were ported in July 2013 and biggest quantity of fixed numbers – 760 – in November 2013. According to ANRCETI specialists, the insignificant number of ported fixed telephony numbers was caused by lack of alternative fixed networks of national coverage and the technical impossibility of subscribers connected to analog networks to use the number portability service.

According to the same data, out of 82,7 thousand mobile numbers ported in two years, most of which – over 50 thousand – were received by Moldcell in its network. „Orange Moldova” received over 17,3 thousand numbers, „Moldtelecom” (Unite) – 15,3 thousand. About 56,6 thousand and 5,1 thousand numbers were ported to other mobile networks from the networks of „Orange Moldova” and „Moldtelecom” (Unite), while about 21,3 thousand numbers migrated from „Moldcell” to other networks.

The 8 thousand fixed numbers were ported to the fixed networks of 24 providers. Most numbers went to the fixed networks of companies „Starnet Solutions” (about4,5 thousand), „Orange Moldova” (1,8 thousand) and „Arax Impex” (about 500).

The telephone number portability project was implemented by ANRCETI jointly with providers of public telephone services, pursuant to the Law on Electronic Communications and in accordance with EU standards. In Moldova, any user can use the service of phone number portability within 5 working days after applying to the provider of his choice. Unlike many other countries, in Moldova this service is provided free of charge.