Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan 16 /Trend H.Veliev/
The use of 10-digit dialling phone numbers by Azerbaijani mobile operator Bakcell Ltd is a step toward the introduction of number portability (MNP - Mobile Number Portability) into the network infrastructure, the company Bakcell told Trend on Monday.
A new method of dialling will be used subsequent to a decree from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan on Jan 21. It will be necessary to dial 055 before the subscribers number in order to call to Bakcell number (for example, 055 XXX-XX-XX).
The new dialling method will also be applied to the networks of other mobile operators (Azercell - 050 and 051, Azerfon - 070 and 077).
The new system will be introduced in Azerbaijan by the end of the first quarter of 2012, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan Ministry which has prepared a regulatory document on the introducing of MNP, told Trend earlier.
Introducing MNP services will allow subscribers to reserve their phone number in case of a change in operators. This will free them from notifying their relatives and business partners in case their number changes.
The operators have to address some technical issues to prepare the infrastructure for the use of this service. Number Portability implies a full migration of phone numbers along with the selected operator prefix (050, 051, 055, 070 and 077).
The service will be launched by all three Azerbaijan mobile operators simultaneously. The introduction of the service increases competition and forces operators to make more effort in retaining former customers while providing more attractive services to attract new ones.