23 July 2007
Customers wishing to switch mobile phone networks will know how difficult the process can be, with the actual changeover taking five days.
The delay typically occurs in changing a phone number from one network to another, although the industry regulator Ofcom has now declared that a customer's switchover should take a maximum of just two hours.
The new regulations, set to be introduced by September 2009 are being talked through with telecoms companies in order that Ofcom gets an understanding of various companies' views.In the meantime the watchdog has insisted telecoms companies reduce the changeover time from five days to two.
"The UK was one of the first countries to introduce number portability and this has helped create a competitive mobile market in the UK," Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said.
"However, the original process is now out of date [And] we believe that the industry should introduce a new system which will stimulate competition and encourage consumers to exercise choice between competing suppliers with a minimum of inconvenience."
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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