UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said that licensees, both Etisalat and du, are ready to launch the mobile number portability (MNP) service starting from December 22 through opening the central system for MNP.

The TRA gave both operators a deadline to prepare their commercial offerings and sales channels to start with the actual transfer for subscribers’ starting December 30 at 8 am.

Starting from December 30, subscribers will be able to switch service provider while keeping their existing number and the network code. The MNP service will provide consumers with the ability to choose between providers, while it is also intended to promote further competition in mobile communications in the UAE.

Consumers in UAE have shown great interest in buying mobile phones. Currently, the UAE has a mobile phone penetration rate of 181 per cent and a smartphone penetration rate of 73.8 per cent.

The two licensees have met the TRA’s instructions and announced their readiness with all necessary requirements and technical procedural adjustments, the telecom watchdog said in a statement. – TradeArabia News Service