MELBOURNE, Australia-The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) announced that beginning Sept. 25, 2001, mobile-phone carriers must allow customers to keep their number when changing phone companies. The date is six months later than the date suggested in the ACA’s preliminary report released in March.
ACA considers the September 2001 implementation date the earliest practicable date by which all industry players can achieve mobile number portability. ACA said new entrants to the market could be ready earlier, but incumbent operators face larger changes to networks and billing systems.
Established carriers are Telstra, Vodafone AirTouch and Cable & Wireless Optus. New entrants include One.Tel and Hutchison Australia.
“The ACA arrived at the September 2001 implementation date after very careful consideration of all submissions received on the preliminary view,” said ACA Chairman Tony Shaw. “Mobile-phone users will now benefit greatly from an orderly introduction of this competitive element across all the mobile telephone technologies available in Australia.”
