Bahrain launches landline phone portability services

Bahrain said on Monday that it had expanded telephone number portability to fixed landline services in a bid to encourage more competition between telecom firms in the kingdom. The announcement by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority comes less than three months after portability - which allows customers to switch operators while keeping the same number - was introduced to mobile phones. Commenting on the launch, Mohamed Hamad Bubashait, general director of the TRA, said: "This service follows the introduction of mobile number portability service back in July and is completely consistent with it, whereas consumers with fixed telecoms services are entitled now to port their numbers and all associated services when changing their service provider." He added that the move "enhanced the strategic plans towards empowering the consumer and minimising the barriers for the fair competition". Last month, it was announced that mobile number portability in the UAE has been further delayed, slowing down attempts to boost competition in the sector. The latest deadline to launch the service had been the end of September and would have allowed customers of du and rival Etisalat to switch providers and keep the same phone number. When asked if number portability had been delayed again, Osman Sultan, du's chief executive said: "That is correct." The UAE's Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) originally said portability would be available by mid-2008.