DALLAS-Wireless local number portability will lead only a moderate number of subscribers to churn, despite recent speculations claiming otherwise, according to Parks Associates’ new U.S. Mobile Market Intelligence report.
“There have been claims that 25 to 30 percent of subscribers will switch operators as soon as number portability is implemented,” said John Barrett, a research analyst at Parks Associates. “That is simply not realistic once you look at markets where LNP has already been introduced, such as Australia, Hong Kong and the U.K.”
According to Barrett, in the first year LNP was available, Hong Kong, with 94-percent penetration, saw 23 percent of subscribers port their numbers, Australia, with 64-percent penetration, saw 4 percent of numbers ported, and the United Kingdom, with 68-percent penetration, saw 6 percent port numbers. He expects the United States, with 50-percent penetration, to see just 2 to 3 percent of subscribers port their numbers within the first year.
