Cable & Wireless calls for new deadline for MNP

27 March 2007

Cable & Wireless is calling on Jersey Telecom to commit to Mobile Number Portability (MNP) and accede to customers’ wishes and the requirements of the JCRA.

The JCRA last year issued a direction to all Jersey mobile operators to implement a system that allowed MNP by 31 January 2007 or ‘at the latest’ by 31 March 2007.  This followed a survey by the JCRA which found that more than half of all Jersey Telecom mobile customers said they would not change provider unless they could keep their existing number (JCRA Position Paper on Number Portability, 5 June 2006, page 7). 

The same survey found that 88% of business customers and 91% of private customers considered this facility was either important or very important when deciding whether to switch operator (JCRA Position Paper on Number Portability, 5 June 2006, page 6).

In an open letter in today’s Jersey Evening Post, Cable & Wireless is asking the JCRA to set a new deadline for compliance of 1 July.  It comes after Jersey Telecom withdrew from the working party set up to agree a system of implementation for MNP.

In the letter, the company calls on the public and business customers to make their views known to the JCRA and JT.

‘We would ask all businesses and consumers in Jersey to make their views known to Jersey Telecom, the JCRA and all those in a position to bring this unacceptable delay to an end.’ 

Marketing manager Steve Eldridge said Cable & Wireless has invested £500,000 in Jersey preparing for MNP, including a technical solution that was offered to Jersey Telecom and would be at no cost to customers. 

In the independent study that Cable & Wireless commissioned, 94% of consumers said they wanted MNP, which reinforces the JCRA’s survey.  If you consider that Jersey Telecom has stated it invested £12 million to establish Wave Telecom in Guernsey, an investment in delivering real choice for Jersey consumers and businesses is now due,’ he said.

Provided Jersey Telecom rejoined the process now, Mr Eldridge said there is no reason why a system could not be in place by 1 July. 

One obstacle to agreement was removed earlier this month when Guernsey’s Office of Utility Regulation proposed that mobile operators there should join the Jersey working party to investigate potential solutions for Guernsey.  Jersey Telecom had previously suggested that Guernsey should be part of any MNP solution in Jersey in order for it to be cost-effective.