The Other Side

Just Desserts For Consumers, Finally

Number portability is a step in the right direction

For handphone users, number portability is most desired. For telco operators, it is offered at a price. Even then, it is not truly portable. And it has taken a few years for the regulatory authority in Singapore to make a ruling in favour of subscribers.

In an industry where many subscribers have teeth gnashing experiences with their telcos tyring to assert consumer rights, it is common knowledge that number portability is highly valued.

Big is beautiful, so it has been said. Big is also powerful and therein lies one root cause for its association with arrogance and presumptuousness. Many telco subscribers would have such experience. It may be about being charged for SMS service that the subscriber didn't ask for or being foisted with some service that comes as part of a package!

Anyone with roaming service can testify to that. Go beyond Singapore's shores and you will start to get welcome messages from different telco operators. Subscribers want the convenience of being contactable but we don't want the hassle of being charged for service messages that we do not want. Try convincing the telco operators about that. The issue is how does one go about doing it since there are one too many operators involved?

Still I hope the ruling by Singapore's IDA about number portability is a step in the right direction. Maybe more authorities will come to agreement to ensure that telco operators do not 'force' their services on consumers.

posted by Ek Heng @ 2:28 PM