THE Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced the impending launch of Number Portability, a pivotal development in the country’s telecommunications sector.
This initiative is part of Guyana’s broader efforts to liberalize the telecom industry, which began on October 5, 2020. The liberalization promises a future of improved service quality, competitive rates, and better options for consumers.

The PUC noted that Number Portability is at the forefront of these liberalization efforts, as it seeks to foster competition and empower consumers.
With the implementation of Number Portability, subscribers will gain the ability to switch telecom service providers while retaining their current telephone numbers.
As the regulatory authority for the telecommunications sector in Guyana, the Commission holds the responsibility for overseeing the process of implementing Number Portability. To this end, the Commission has established a dedicated Number Portability Working Group (NPWG) to manage the process. This working group, chaired by a Commission member, includes representatives from all major telecom service providers in the country, namely GTT Inc., Digicel, and ENet, along with the Telecommunications Agency.
The Telecommunications Agency, responsible for processing telecom licences, issuing phone numbers, and regulating radio communication spectrum usage, plays a pivotal role in this initiative.

Central to the technical aspects of Number Portability is the Clearinghouse service provider. Porting XS, a Netherlands-based Clearinghouse provider now licensed in Guyana, is responsible for administering Number Portability services to telecom providers. This involves managing the central database of telephone numbers and overseeing the technical aspects of number porting upon consumer requests.

Although the Commission had originally anticipated an earlier launch date for Number Portability, delays in licensing the Clearinghouse provider and the completion of rigorous testing processes, including numerous porting tests among service providers, impacted several key milestones.

Nevertheless, the PUC noted that live testing of numbers among service providers is now a daily occurrence. This testing phase is a complex process that encompasses interconnecting with the Clearinghouse provider, exchanging telephone numbers for porting tests, and certifying each completed test.

Additionally, configuring call routing during number porting and testing short message signal (SMS) procedures are all part of the foundation for a seamless Number Portability regime in Guyana.

The Commission reassures the public that it remains actively engaged in monitoring each testing phase and is fully committed to the successful implementation of Number Portability.
Acknowledging the significance of telephone numbers in today’s digital age, the Commission understands that assigned numbers, particularly mobile ones, have become synonymous with personal identity and recovery contacts for social media and other electronic platforms.

As the Commission strives to make Number Portability a reality in Guyana, the PUC stated that the public can rest assured that regular updates will be provided, including the official launch date. The initiative is expected to bring new opportunities, improved services, and greater choice for telecom users in the country.