Following revisions to the Telecom-munications Law last week, the public will be able to retain fixed-line phone numbers when changing phone carriers, a move expected to offer equal access to new entrants.
"This mechanism can eliminate users' inconvenience when they plan to change service providers, and therefore consumers can make decisions based on price, service and quality [rather than on phone numbers]," Kao Kai-Sheng (
Fixed line operators Sparq (速博), Eastern Broadband Telecommunications Co Ltd (東森寬頻) and Taiwan Fixed Network Corp (台灣固網) entered the market in March last year, but consumers have been reluctant to change carriers as they don't wish to change numbers.
Since the state-run Chunghwa Telecom Co (
"We expected the competition among providers will be increased following the change," Kao said.
The new service is dubbed Number Portability (NP).
In the US, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 required that the local exchange carriers in the 100 largest metropolitan markets provide this capability.
Last Friday the legislature passed a bill requiring all fixed-line phone companies to offer NP service. Not fulfilling that requirement will entail fines of up to NT$3 million or the suspension of operating licenses.
For the mobile-phone-service sector, the government plans to ask companies to provide NP service sometime next year, along with the launching of third-generation services.
New market entrants applauded the plan.
"We've argued with the government and Chunghwa over the implementation of NP service for years. We are glad the day has finally arrived," said Kuo Ming-chi (
An industry watcher, however, said the effect of NP service may not be immediately prevalent
"The implantation of NP service is not the only encouragement for subscribers to switch carriers. Phone rates and other services are what attract customers," said Ann Liang (
"But users can only enjoy the NP service in areas where new fixed-line providers have set up their own networks," Kao said.
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