House OKs bill allowing subscribers to retain mobile numbers when switching networks

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure that seeks to allow mobile phone subscribers to retain their mobile number even if they switch from one network to another, whether for postpaid or prepaid.

Voting 216-0, the chamber approved House Bill 7652, or the proposed "Mobile Number Portability Act," principally authored by Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

The measure seeks to promote easy and convenient use of mobile phones by allowing transfer of a subscriber from one service provider to another without changing their mobile telephone number.

Under the bill, all Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) to provide subscribers the option to retain their numbers at zero cost.

Mobile number portability (MNP) is likewise allowed only if subscribers have duly registered their names and mobile phone number with the originating service provider and have no existing liability or outstanding obligations.

The recipient provider, or the PTE to which the subscriber is transferring, is mandated to transmit the MNP application to the donor provider for the purpose of clearing the mobile number for porting.

The recipient provider is required to activate the subscriber's ported number under its network within 24 hours upon notification that the mobile number has been cleared for porting.

Meanwhile, the donor provider is required to continue providing all services to the subscriber of the number being ported, subject to a "cutover" period.

It must not also impose conditions and procedures for contract termination or for completion of a porting application.

PTEs that violate the provisions of the law will be slapped with fines starting from P100,000 to P300,000 for the first offense, and P400,000 to P600,000 for the second offense.

Subsequent offenses, meanwhile, will face a fine ranging from P700,000 to P1 million as well as the cancellation of the PTE’s franchise to operate. — BM, GMA News