Government urged to pursue digital readiness

MANILA, Philippines — The lack of public interest in the Mobile Number Portability Act makes the new law similar to a prescription for the wrong ailment and should tell government to focus on more fundamental improvements in the country’s digital infrastructure and broadband services, an independent consumer advocacy group said.

“People may not be interested in switching telecom providers because they now have many other options to communicate,” said Louie Montemar, convenor of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3).

“The government should instead focus on improving the country’s digital infrastructure so that the quality of internet connection will be seamless and uniform across the country.”

Just over 1,000 out of more than 100 million subscribers – or 0.001 percent of the total – have ported to their new networks during the first month of the MNP, according to Melanie Manuel, head of Telecommunications Connectivity Inc., a joint-venture company composed of all telcos created for the purpose of operationalizing the law.

Montemar said the pandemic has highlighted the public’s need for the internet to perform their day-to-day transactions, from remote working or studying, to online banking and shopping, to health consultations, to connecting with friends and family.

“Internet connection has become a right, given the volume of essential activities we now do online. Meanwhile, if we cannot call or text somebody using our mobile numbers, we can always send them an email or message them on social media.”

What is needed, thus, is for government to streamline bureaucratic processes so that gaps can be addressed, and digital infrastructure investments and projects can proceed as planned.

The Mobile Number Portability Law has been touted as a milestone of the National Telecommunications Commission for enabling dissatisfied telecom customers to switch service providers while retaining their numbers, which they may have been using for a long time.

“Despite the hype, MNP does not appear to be the game changer that it purported to be,” Montemar said. “MNP seems like a nice option to have but one thousand out of over 100 million mobile subscribers shows only insignificant market acceptance.”

“Instead of focusing on this new law,the government must accelerate the country’s digital transformation and enable the people to be digitally ready,” Montemar said. “The Philippines cannot survive, much less compete, in the post-pandemic world without respectable internet connectivity.’’