Azerbaijan simplifies MNP service
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani mobile operators will simplify the country’s mobile numbers portability service, a procedure that makes it possible to migrate from one mobile carrier to another.
The Communications and High Technologies Ministry has revealed that many of the errors in the work of mobile operators to provide MNP services have been created artificially to limit the loss of business, and the consumer’s right to choose. Meanwhile, the MNP serves the interest of the final consumer.
Taking this into account, the ministry has already submitted proposals to amend the rules of the MNP service to the government for approval. It is expected that the new changes will take effect in the near future.
Earlier, the Ministry initiated a plan to reduce the waiting time for migrating from one operator's network to another from six to three days, which was undertaken in order to ensure the efficiency of services and enhance its attractiveness to end users.
The Ministry also removed the requirement for consumers to be completely caught up in payments to the subscriber in order to switch carriers.
The debt to the operator will be considered the current debt, and calculations are carried out after the transfer of the number.
There are three mobile operators in Azerbaijan: Azercell, Bakcell and Azerfon.
The implementation of the MNP service will allow mobile communication subscribers to keep their phone numbers when changing network operators. The number transfer envisages a subscriber's transition from one service to another within the provider's prefix of 050, 051, 055, 070 and 077.
The simplification of the MNP service is expected to increase competition and prompt operators to provide more competitive services to attract new customers.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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