LAHORE, April 8: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is working to launch mobile number portability (MNP) from November, enabling a subscriber of a cellular company to change his network operator without changing the number.

For an effective MNP, implementation of an online central mobile subscriber number reference database and porting-mediation system known as Central Database Administration (CDA) is being developed.

PTA Regional Director Nayyar Hasan told Dawn on Friday that the MNP was being launched to enhance a fair competition among different cellular mobile telecommunication operators (CMTO) and to improve the customer service quality through removing one of the barriers to change.

He said the authority would issue a detailed regulation covering aspect regarding role and responsibilities of the supervisory body, the CDA, CMTO

and the other authorized operators.

“The implementation of MNP will go smoothly and the general public will have access to seamless and transparent MNP from whichever CMTO they choose to select for benefits like better service, quality of connection and better pricing without having to surrender their existing subscriber number,”

he said.