Mobile bosses 'delighted' with service switch speed

Competition bosses are praising the faster roll out of the tech for customers to keep their mobile numbers if they switch providers in the Channel Islands.

The Jersey and Guernsey Competition Regulatory Authorities stepped in to ensure JT, Sure, and the Channel Islands Co-operative Society speeded up the "complex system changes" needed for it to work.

The move was not due until May this year under JT's initial timetable and the regulators challenged the delay and the work has been completed two months earlier.

The Mobile Number Portability scheme allows customers to switch mobile providers and keep their existing number, and depends on technical and commercial arrangements between operators.

The move comes after Coop Mobile, which uses Sure's network, said customers who wanted to switch from Jersey Telecom (JT) had been unable to keep their number.

Tim Ringsdore, the CEO of the JCRA, and Michael Byrne, CEO of the GCRA, said: "Mobile phone markets are an essential part of Islanders' everyday lives and ensuring that markets remain competitive, and consumers have genuine choice, is an important part of our work."

They added: "We are delighted the operators have responded to our intervention and delivered a solution ahead of the original timetable."

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