SOFIA, Bulgaria -- Today, January 8th 2007, vivatel put forward at the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) a signed procedure for the introduction of mobile number portability which is in accord with the regulations.

“We believe that very soon people in the country will enjoy the advantages which the European citizens have who consume mobile services – the right to chose a mobile operator”, said vivatel CEO Richard Shearer. “Today, the youngest operator signed officially the rules of the procedure for the implementation of number portability in mobile networks and proved once more it’s determination to be a driving force in the development of the mobile services market.

We proved our determination to defend the client’s interests and to push forward the development of competition on the market because the introduction of this service is not only a result of the agreement between Bulgaria and the EU but also a promise to the consumers who expect it to be available after January 2007. We look forward to the emergence of a better environment for the consumers because the operators will search for actions to preserve their clients”, added Richard Shearer.

vivatel believes that the implementation of the portability for mobile numbers should be easy, transparent and cheap for the client. He would have to have the right to request number transfer to the operator whose network he has chosen to use and this should be free. The mobile operators should arrange between them the whole documentation needed to transfer the number.

Low cost of the mobile number portability, simple administrative procedure and minimal inconveniences of the number transfer itself are of greatest significance for the client when making the decision for the transfer show the examples from practice in Europe. The lower the price for the number transfer, the more preferred and practices the service is. Great Britain and Spain are the most expressive examples for the client benefits of mobile number portability. In these countries there is no cost for this service which makes it attractive. Finland which has assured attractive complex conditions for the number transfer in mobile networks take pleasure of great achievements – for only 3 years after the introduction of mobile number portability the percentage of transferred numbers has reached 54.

It is of great importance for vivatel that mobile number portability is implemented in the country as soon as possible because it will bring only benefits to the consumers. Any client can preserve his existing number while changing the mobile operator. This would mean easy access to the most attractive tariff plans with no inconveniences for the clients.

Vivatel