By the end of March - over 11,000 ported numbers

By the end of March, 2002, 11,404 telephone numbers had been ported in Portugal, reveals data compiled by the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM). This amount indicates a growing trend amongst users to opt for this telecommunications networks' function, which has been in force, since 2001, in the fixed networks and, since January 1, 2002, in mobile networks.

Number portability between operators is a function of fixed and mobile networks whereby the user may maintain his or her telephone number when changing operator. This function thus stimulates competition, by eliminating an important conditioning factor when choosing a provider: the telephone number.

Most of Portugal's 11,000 ported numbers were ported in the first quarter of this year. Just between January and March, 9,066 numbers were ported to other operators' networks. From these, the vast majority (8,739) correspond to geographic numbers, 322 to mobile telephone service numbers and a small part, 5, to non-geographic numbers. The latter includes numbers starting with 800 or 808.

Consult press release:

• Mobile portability from 01.01.2002 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=13837