Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones

The IFT Plenary decides to modify the operating specifications of number portability to facilitate this process for users

• The text message whereby the confirmation PIN is submitted to the number to be ported will change, in order to offer greater certainty and clarity in the communication with the subscriber
• A numeral is added regarding the obligatory accountability of concessionaires to deliver the invoice of the services contracted at least 10 in advance to the payment deadline
• It approves the granting of 7 new concession certificates and 21 extensions of concession certificates to install, operate and exploit a public telecommunications network to individuals and corporations in different cities of the country

The Federal Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, IFT) Plenary decided to modify the operating specifications to implement number portability, in order to this process to be more expedite and transparent for users.

Number portability is the right of subscribers to keep their telephone number, notwithstanding the concessionaire of public telecommunications network they may choose.

The modifications approved by the Plenary derive from the agreements unanimously reached in the Technical Portability Committee, the forum presided and coordinated by the IFT, and in which providers of telecommunication services participate, for whom the number has been assigned.

One of the essential requirements to carry out the number portability process in the case of subscribers of prepaid mobile telephone services is that the user requesting the change may have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) of confirmation. This number is generated by the Database Administrator (Administrador de la Base de Datos, DA or ABD) and sent through a text message to the number to be ported, by the telephone company request to the telephone company the user wants to change to.

With the change approved today by the Plenary, the text message must state: “The change of your mobile telephone company has commenced. Deliver the code to the new company only if you wish to make the change. Your portability PIN is XXXX” (Está iniciando su cambio de empresa de telefonía móvil, entregue la clave de la nueva empresa solo si desea cambiarse, su NIP de portabilidad es XXXX).

Thus, greater clarity, certainty and transparency will be offered in the message sent to the subscriber of local and mobile services in the prepaid scheme, and the risk of deceiving practices is diminished.

Likewise, the IFT Plenary decided to add number 2.3 ter of the operating specifications, regarding the mandatory nature for telecommunication services providers to provide, through any mean agreed by the parties, the pertinent invoice to the subscriber numbers, with the amount chargeable to such subscriber at least 10 calendar days in advance to the payment deadline of the telecommunications services contracted.

This measure is destined to offer users the elements to make easier the process for their telephone number portability whenever they decide so, and to reduce the obstacles that could exist to conduct the pertinent process.

Conversely, the Plenary decided to grant 7 certificate concessions to install, operate and exploit a public telecommunications network to an equal number of individuals or corporations in different locations of the country, listed herein below:

Likewise, it decided to grant 21 extensions of concession certificates to install, operate and exploit a public telecommunications network to an equal number of individuals or corporations in different locations of the country, listed herein below:

Finally, the IFT agreed to issue a permit certificate to install and operate Channel 49 of digital television in favor of the Government of the State of Morelos.