​Competition increases as Kiwis transfer millionth mobile phone number

The New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF) has just recorded the millionth mobile phone number transferred between mobile phone operators.

Known as number porting, New Zealand consumers and businesses are able to take their phone number with them when they switch providers.

“Number portability is key to the competition between telecommunications service providers,” says Geoff Thorn, CEO, TCF.

“It allows consumers and businesses to select a provider and package which best suits their needs, both fixed line and mobile, and retain their existing numbers.

“Although it is a fairly complex process to move a number from one provider to another, for the consumer it has become relatively seamless. The number porting system is facing increased pressure as the demand for UFB (Ultra-fast Broadband) connections grows.

“To meet this demand, the industry has recently agreed that major providers will aim to provide the number porting service six days a week.”

Thorn says number porting was introduced on 1 April, 2007 and since its inception, 1.7 million fixed and mobile numbers have been ported - more than half the phone numbers now ported, have already been ported at least once before.