By: Staff Writer
April 01, Colombo (LNW): The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has been receiving increasing public requests to introduce Number Portability (NP) services. In response, the government has announced concrete steps to implement this long-awaited feature after facing regulatory, financial, and industry-related hurdles for over 17 years.
According to a statement from a recent Ministerial Consultative Committee on Digital Economic Affairs meeting, the government aims to introduce NP services by June 2025. The meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, included discussions on allowing mobile phone users to retain their numbers when switching service providers. Officials confirmed that the service would be operational from mid-next year.
The TRCSL first engaged telecom operators to develop a suitable implementation plan. A Public Consultation Paper was published in 2021 to gather stakeholder feedback, followed by collaborative efforts between TRCSL and service providers to determine the best technical model. To facilitate operations, Lanka Number Portability Services (Guarantee) Limited (LNPS) was established with the participation of all mobile and fixed-line operators. TRCSL granted LNPS the necessary license to operate NP services, while the Attorney General’s Department approved the accompanying regulations and guidelines.
Following regulatory approvals, LNPS initiated a procurement process to identify a suitable service provider for the necessary technical infrastructure. By January 2025, the financial evaluation of bids was completed, setting the stage for selecting a supplier and installing the system, with service commencement expected shortly after.
The delay in implementing NP has been a persistent concern. Reports indicate that TRCSL initially secured a $472,000 grant from the World Bank’s Institutional Development Fund (IDF) in 2010 to develop regulatory and implementation frameworks. However, efforts to launch the service faced resistance from private telecom providers, who were reluctant to invest in the infrastructure required for seamless call rerouting.
In 2011, the TRCSL decided against implementing Mobile Number Portability (MNP), citing high costs. Then-Director General Anusha Palpita estimated a $96 million investment would be required, arguing that Sri Lanka’s mobile market was too small to justify the expense. He also warned that the cost burden could be passed on to consumers and suggested that improving overall service quality would be a better alternative.
Despite these past challenges, progress resumed when LNPS, following legal approval, initiated the procurement process. In May 2023, TRCSL invited tenders for installing and commissioning NP services. The then-State Minister of Technology, Kanaka Herath, had promised MNP would be introduced within a year. However, implementation was later postponed to late 2024, with the latest target now set for mid-2025.
Sri Lanka remains one of the last countries in South Asia without number portability. Pakistan, which served as a model for implementation, introduced MNP as early as 2007. With recent developments, Sri Lanka is finally on track to offer this service, aligning itself with global telecom standards and providing greater flexibility for mobile users.
