Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Keng Yaik acts on number portability
Mobile telephony operators who have been dragging their feet in improving service coverage will now have to face the music for their tardiness.
The Minister of Energy, Water and Communications, Dr Lim Keng Yaik, has stepped up the pressure on the cellular network operators to expedite their effort in improving the mobile telephony service coverage in the country.
He has issued a ministerial direction to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to expedite the process that facilitates the implementation of the portability of mobilephone numbers.
That's music to the consumers' ears.
"To ensure that the consumer will be able to make real choice in relation to service provides, the Commission is directed to undertake the effective implementaion of number portability for public cellular services as soon as possible," stated the ministerial direction.
The Direction has since been registered and come into operation on September 10 though MCMC only published it today.
The MCMC has also been directed to take all necessary measures to expedite the implementation of number portability in the country.
Since taking over the ministry, Dr Lim has been focussing on opening up access, and boosting competition among the players.
For a start, he has given all celco players until the end of the year to guarantee full coverage within the Klang Valley and Putrajaya, and till December 2005 for full coverage throughout Malaysia. Or else, their license might be pulled up for review.
This is a clear use of the stick if the operators don't buck up, and we should give him our full support on this.
Benefits of Number Portability
In June, I wrote in my column in Malaysian Business that bring in portability of mobilephone numbers ASAP. Cellular subscribers should be allowed to bring along their cellular numbers when they switch networks. At the moment, a 012-user has to surrender his phone number when he migrates to, say, 019. This is both messy and costly. He has to endure the inconvenience of broadcasting his new number to his personal and business contacts, change stationeries and namecards... the whole works.
However, if the 012-user is allowed to carry his number to Celcom, and retain 012 when he is billed by Celcom – or vice versa - nuisance he normally faced with network migration would cease, but the operators stand the risk of losing its captive customers as one of the major barriers to switching network by the phone-users is removed. The only way to retain the customers is to entice them with optimum service quality.
This normally goes beyond the problems of service coverage to include billing accuracy, front-counter customer service and rewards for loyalty.
This can only happen when number portability is enforced. Go for it, folk!
good, with number portability, i will surely return to DIgi. Bloody Maxis is overcharging us.
Posted by: Fooji at October 12, 2004 05:31 PMto me our very own LKY is really giving his best for his last term
Posted by: magnumao at October 12, 2004 06:17 PMHere...here...for mobile number portability. Mobile Telcos have been resting on their laurels and taking their own sweet time to bring exceptable service to paying customers. Kudos to Keng Yaik for putting some weight onto the issue. Once this is implemented we'll see who has the last laugh.
Posted by: Amin at October 12, 2004 06:23 PMI'm not really hopeful on this.
Posted by: gogo2 at October 12, 2004 06:58 PMTechnically this is NO BRAIN implementation for all the telco. The mobile connection is all done through the SIM card, so there is no issue on the client side as long as the client get the new SIM from the new telco.
OTH, it is up to MCMC to accept excuses from the telco on the new number "customisation" with the new system.
Posted by: moo_t at October 12, 2004 09:51 PM
moo_t: I doubt it is completely a no-brain implementation. For one, incoming calls cannot be routed to the right network immediately based on the prefixed digits.
However, it would seem to me that it *is* a no-brain for the MCMC to just issue a directive dictating that all telcos must implement this by xxx date, proposing a method of integration from HK or numerous other successful case-studies the world over.
The conspiracist in me believes that the telco that seem to stands to lose the most (*****) are in cahoots with the powers that be. I've lost count of the number of ***** users that just can't wait to switch over but do not want to lose their numbers.
Agree with Andrew. Although I must say, if and when this number portability comes in to force, it would be a mighty sword for the consumers.
Hehe. Watch out telcos.....improve, or else..??!!!
Posted by: Koppite at October 13, 2004 10:44 AMAndrew, perhaps you like to read some facts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone
http://www.galaxyphones.co.uk/mobile_phones_basics09.asp#anchor13502401
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_96/journal/vol1/pr4/article1.html
The prefix 012, 016, 0xx is arbitary to the mobile switching system. Joe public might thought it is complicated for the system, but not for the system!
In fact, the mobile switching network as never design to response to the mobile phone number, it response to your SIM card Mobile ID. If the network doesn't recognise your SIM card mobile ID, it just don't do the connection. If the mobile ID is valid, the system will initiate the connection and the billing.
That's why I say it is up to MCMC to accept their BS^H^H reasons.
Posted by: moo_t at October 13, 2004 03:49 PMKeng Yaik is behaving like he actually believes there is a new regime in control of national affairs in town. He has got to put on Mahathir's cap to see if this is beneficial to him and his cronies or not.
If really Pak Lah and company are in control, then Keng Yaik may have his way. But the doubtful Thomas that I am, I think not!
Posted by: Observer at October 13, 2004 04:46 PMcan be done, and must be done..at least LKY is thinking of doing something..a lot of ministers are just buta gaji and not thinking at all
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