From the 9th of January 2023, Netherlands-based number portability and data processing services company, PortingXS B.V. will be able to operate here legally as it has been granted a licence by government.
“Notice is hereby given that on the 1st day of December, 2022, an Individual Licence was issued under Section 23 of the Telecommunication Act 2016 by Hon. Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark A. Phillips, MSS, M.P., Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for Telecommunications, to PXS B.V. a company registered under the Companies Act, Chapter 89:01 with registered address at Watermanweg 106B, 3067 GG Rotterdam, The Netherlands and locally of Lot 62 Hadfield and Cross streets, Georgetown, Guyana,” a notice in the Official Gazette of December 10th states.
“The said Individual Licence is for the provision of Number Portability Clearing House Services and will be effective from 9th January, 2023. Dated the 5th day of December, 2022,” it adds.
In January of this year Stabroek News reported that the company had applied for a licence to operate here.
According to the Netherlands registered company, it had applied to the Telecommunications Agency for an Individual Licence. An application to provide the service was made on May 18, of this year.
“The said Individual Licence application by PortingXS B.V. requests permission to provide fixed and mobile number portability administration services to service providers within Guyana currently Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd., U-Mobile ( Cellular) Inc. [Digicel] and E-Networks Inc,” an advertisement it had published in the Guyana Times had stated.
Such services provide the option to consumers of mobile or landline services to change their service provider and keep their number. Currently, customers of Digicel and GTT if they wish to switch networks cannot do so without acquiring a new number.
Number portability is seen as important to efficient mobile services and it has been increasingly in demand.
In the application notice, the company had invited comments from persons who might have had an interest or been affected by the application for the individual licence.
According to the company’s website, it provides the communications industry with user friendly and accessible number portability and data processing services.
The introduction of number portability is an important step in the liberalization of telecommunications markets, the company says.
The company on its website stated there are numerous reasons why countries, regulators and telecom providers should consider implementing Number Portability.
“It enhances the welfare of countries through promotion of effective competition, economics and freedom of operator choice. It can lead to new and competitive services, lower prices, improvement in Quality of Services, enhancing the quality of life and stimulation of economic growth”, the website said.
The company says it has a presence in over 17 countries across the Caribbean, Africa and Europe.
It was founded in 2000.
