Rumor: MIIT to Expand Number Portability Trials
CCID, 2/23/12
An industry source revealed recently that an internal meeting chaired by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) deputy director Shang Bing recently resolved that number portability trials would expand from current trials in Tianjin and Hainan to an additional three cities and provinces this year. The source did not reveal which cities and provinces would host portability trials, but said that all three of China's telecom operators would submit specific implementation plans, with trial sites to be determined through coordination between the operators.
On November 22, 2011, the MIIT gave the go-ahead for number portability trials in Tianjin and Hainan. As of January 31 of this year, a total of 158,631 subscribers had applied to transfer their numbers to other carriers, and 58,260 subscribers had completed transfer procedures.
The MIIT had originally planned for the six-month number portability trial period to conclude in May 2011, but the trial period was extended owing to a number of factors.
Keywords: Shang Bing wireless number portability MIIT trial