Number portability service launched

Home Minister Umar Naseer on Thursday inaugurated the service where telecom company customers will be provided the option to switch networks without having to change their phone numbers.

With this service, Ooredoo customers can switch to Dhiraagu without changing their number, and Dhiraagu customers can switch to Ooredoo without changing their number.

It has been announced in the inauguration ceremony held at Hotel Jen by Communication Authority of Maldives (CAM), Ooredoo and Dhiraagu – that the number portability service will be available to customers starting March 10.

Customers who want the service will be charged a fee of MVR 200, and will receive service from their desired network within two days.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Minister Umar said that Ooredoo and Dhiraagu had set up the number portability service after spending USD 3 million (MVR 46.2 million).

Umar also noted that the service was provided in few countries within the region, and that the service being provided in Maldives was proof of how far along the country’s telecommunication industry had come.

“This service is available in few countries in the region. About seven Asian countries provide the service out of the 70 or so countries the service is provided in – world-wide,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of Communication Authority of Maldives (CAM), Ilyas Ahmed said that the new service would provide more freedom in using telecom services.

He said that a person’s phone number was part of his/her identity; and that being provided the freedom of changing operators without changing the number was hugely convenient.

Speaking during the ceremony, new CEO and Managing Director of Dhiraagu, Ismail Rasheed said that it was a golden opportunity for Ooredoo customers to switch to Dhiraagu.

CEO of rival company – Ooredoo, Vikram Sinha said that launching the number portability service was a huge achievement, and that Ooredoo was spending heavily just for the satisfaction of its customers.