Mobile phone users in Antigua and Barbuda may soon be able to switch service providers without giving up their telephone numbers. According to Antigua News Room, the government is targeting a July rollout for the long-awaited number portability initiative.
The reform would allow customers of Flow, Digicel and APUA Inet to retain their existing mobile numbers when moving between networks. Officials say the change will give consumers greater flexibility and stimulate competition within the telecommunications sector.
Speaking at Thursday's post-Cabinet briefing, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant confirmed that the government expects the system to be operational next month.
"Government believes that this should become effective in July of this year," Merchant said. "Number portability."
Merchant explained the practical impact of the change in straightforward terms. "If you wish to switch from APUA Inet to Flow, you can take your number with you," he said. "That's what number portability is."
The development comes years after legislation enabling number portability was passed, with implementation repeatedly delayed due to coordination challenges among telecommunications providers. When asked why the initiative had taken so long, Merchant pointed to the difficulty of securing cooperation among competing companies.
"We must recognize that they are competitors in this field and so collaboration sometimes is not the easiest thing and hence it has taken a while," he said.
Merchant acknowledged the reform could significantly reshape the local telecommunications market by lowering the barrier for dissatisfied customers to change providers. "It may mean good for certain providers and it may not, because there may be an exodus of individuals from any particular service provider to another," he said.
The Cabinet discussed number portability as part of a broader review of the country's telecommunications infrastructure. The session also included updates on the subsea cable project and ongoing efforts to attract additional internet service providers to Antigua and Barbuda. Officials described those initiatives as aimed at improving network reliability, increasing competition and strengthening the nation's overall communications framework.
Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas is expected to provide further details on the rollout in the coming weeks.
