Globe’s GOMO to start number porting service on Oct. 12; Smart questions delay

Globe Telecom Inc. on Thursday said its all-digital mobile service provider GOMO would provide number porting services beginning October 12, which is two weeks behind the formal launch of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) on September 30.

“We want to make sure that the service will be offered without posing additional problems or complications to our customer. So far, the company has not received a request from a GOMO customer wanting to avail of the MNP service,” Globe said.

The Ayala-led telco cited Telecommunications Connectivity Inc.’s (TCI) earlier statement that hiccups or birth pains are to be expected with the new service.

TCI is the joint venture firm set up by three of the country’s major telco players — PLDT Inc.’s mobile unit Smart Communications Inc., Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc., and Dito Telecommunity Corp. to implement the MNP.

"This is especially true in our case because of our multiple brands that have multiple functionalities which are differentiated from our core brands," Globe said. 

Globe's other brands, namely Globe Prepaid, Postpaid, Platinum and TM are currently providing MNP service, the telco said.

"We are sincere in our intent to give our mobile customers the ability to choose their favorite provider and we are doing our best to comply. We are also grateful to our customers for choosing Globe over other providers," it added.

Under the MNP, mobile subscribers can keep their mobile numbers even when they transfer to another service provider or when they switch subscription plans from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa.

It will take 48 hours for a subscriber to be able to transfer to a new network once the application is approved.

Smart questions delay?

In a separate statement, Smart Communications Inc. said it urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to look into GOMO’s delayed participation in the MNP service.

Smart’s regulatory affairs’ manager Kenneth Regañon sent a letter to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba stating “Even the President of the Philippines cannot stop the law from being implemented.  How then can a unilateral act of one covered by the law delay implementation?”

Under Republic Act 11202 or the MNP law, all mobile network service providers are obliged to provide a nationwide number porting service to all qualified subscribers, Smart said. ?

“The MNP Act applies to all MSPs (mobile service providers) without exception and GOMO subscribers can demand from Globe a seamless network switch starting September 30, and yet Globe has just issued an advisory denying GOMO subscribers precisely this right. We do not believe that Globe is above the law, that is why we are asking the Commission’s clarification on this issue,” said Regañon.

Globe, in response, said it has yet to receive a copy of Smart's complaint letter to the NTC. 

The Ayala-led telco also “strongly denies any malice or intent to violate the MNP law.”
 
"Being transparent to our GOMO customers, we have sent out SMS advisories on the delay of MNP service readiness to keep our customers fully informed," Globe said.?

Regañon also said “Globe’s constructive denial of its customers’ choice to switch to Smart seamlessly without the hassle of changing their mobile number, which seemingly stem from system errors and the apparent general unpreparedness of Globe sales force to implement the MNP law, ultimately compromise, if not maim the spirit of the law, which is to honor and protect the customers’ choice of their preferred network.”

Globe, however, took exception to Smart's complaint, saying “all issues and wins of the MNP service are being discussed at length at the management committee of TCI.”

“All service providers are aware of the challenges currently being experienced. It does seem this complaint is being done in bad faith on the part of Smart,” it said. — VBL, GMA News