by Jason Salas, KUAM News Wednesday, January 04, 2006 Subscribe to Jason's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

There's good news from the telecomm market, as GTA has successfully upgraded its network to support local number portability (LNP) for its wireless operations. This will allow customers to be able to change cell phone carriers while retaining their phone number, traditionally a painful issue when moving between service providers due to the arduous process of telling friends and family about a new number, reassigning contact lists, etc.

Expectedly, most other local wireless carriers will follow suit and upgrade their own networks by mid-February. The Federal Communications Commission, the agency mandating LNP within service markets, sees the promotion of healthy competition within the telecommunications industry as a key goal, so that consumers receive better service, lower prices and innovation.

A GTA press release stated that GTA Wireless would charge $0.50/month for LNP service. The fee covers various operational costs for system recovery and software configuration to provide LNP.

Full implementation of wireless LNP on Guam is projected for this spring.