61,000 requests to port number in UAE since December 2013

The UAE’s telecom regulator says that 61 000 mobile number porting requests have been received since the mobile number portability (MNP) service launched last December However only 23,000 of the requests have been completed.

There have also been complaints that the process has not worked smoothly for a lot of customers, although it seems many requests were made without the correct paperwork and had to be resubmitted.

"The significant number of porting requests received reflects the real interest of UAE consumers in the MNP service. The TRA is responsible for monitoring the service mechanisms, ensuring all the necessary documents and information is submitted to complete the transition and ultimately, ensuring the switchover process runs as smoothly as possible," said Mohamed Al Ghanim, director-general of the TRA.