MONTREAL-The Canadian telecommunications industry has initiated number portability trials that eventually will allow consumers to switch phone companies without having to change their phone number.
One of the major components of establishing local number portability is the creation and maintenance of an industry-wide database and administration center, which allows service providers to transfer subscribers and route calls within their networks, according to Microcell Telecommunications Inc.
“Some day people will be assigned a telephone number at birth that they will be able to keep for life,” Charles Sirois, Microcell chairman, predicted in 1988.
A member of the industry consortium, Microcell is a national provider of personal communications services and the first carrier in the world to initiate database number portability trials with wireline telephone companies.
Microcell President and Chief Executive Officer, Andre Tremblay, said, “The future of telecommunications is technology-neutral. No longer will there be barriers between wireless and wireline, and no longer will technology be a barrier to choice.”
