Khaberni - Instructions for the mobile number portability service for the year (2025) were issued in the Official Gazette today, Wednesday.
Mobile number portability service is defined as the service provided by the operator to mobile phone subscribers, which allows them to retain their mobile phone numbers when switching from one operator to another. The mobile number portability service center is defined as the center licensed by the telecommunications regulatory authority, contracted with mobile communications network operators to operate and manage the mobile number portability service. The "recipient operator" is defined as the operator that will activate the mobile phone number on its network after the transfer is completed, while the donor operator is defined as the operator that has the mobile phone number active on its network when a transfer request is submitted.
According to the instructions, subscribers wishing to transfer one or more mobile phone numbers must submit a transfer request at one of the recipient operator’s branches or at points of sale authorized by it, or through any other available and approved means by the telecommunications regulatory authority. The recipient operator begins the mobile phone numbers transfer process, where it manages the number transfer process on behalf of the subscriber.
The subscriber confirms the transfer process by sending a free short text message to the mobile number portability service center after submitting the transfer request.
The number transfer process for the subscriber must be completed within a maximum duration of one business day from the date of the transfer request submission, and according to the guidelines specified in the document, which determine the terms of number transfer and the duration to complete the process, including collective number transfers as mentioned in the document.
Mobile communications network operators are committed to initiate contracting procedures with the mobile number portability service center to operate and manage this service, and to automate the number transfer process starting from the transfer request submission, integrating the operators' systems and networks with the number portability center, including verification, deactivation, and activation processes. Operators are also obliged to comply with the procedures of the number transfer process specified in these instructions, and not to refuse any transfer request or numbers except in cases specified by the document. They are required to issue and publish explanatory guidelines for subscribers detailing the transfer procedures; to ensure a smooth transition and retain all data and information related to number transfers for at least (12) months, and to provide it to the authority upon request.
The operation and management of the mobile number portability service will be through the number portability center.
The instructions stipulate that the recipient operator must return the transferred number to the donor operator, in addition to bearing all associated costs, if it is proven that the transfer of the mobile phone number was done contrary to what is stipulated in these instructions. The mobile number portability service is subject to the provisions contained in the document, which define the procedures, terms, and functions related to the transfer process, in addition to the responsibilities of the concerned operators; to ensure an effective transfer experience focused on subscriber service.
The project is implemented according to the stages specified in the project plan to be fully completed within a period not exceeding (18) months from the date of the effectiveness of these instructions, and the operator that violates the provisions of these instructions or the project plan or any phase thereof, shall be punished with penalties stipulated in the law and the licensing agreement.
