REGULATOR MULLS MNP IN ARMENIA
Michael Lacquiere

World Markets Research Markets
Global Insight
Jan 12 2009

Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has indicated
that it is examining the possibility of introducing mobile number
portability (MNP), reports ARKA. The PSRC’s head of telecommunications,
Gevorg Gevorgyan, has said that experience of MNP in other European
countries is being studied and, once completed, the PSRC will present
proposals for MNP introduction in Armenia.

Significance:Mobile penetration in Armenia is approaching 80% and,
with three established GSM operators offering services, backed by
foreign investors, the market is in a fairly healthy condition. It is
likely that the introduction of MNP would give a further boost to the
market by allowing subscribers to retain their existing numbers when
they switch operators. While such a move is unlikely to be welcomed by
leading players K-Telcom and Armentel, the smallest operator, France
Telecom’s Orange, would probably welcome it as easing the means of
churning customers from its larger rivals. A similar study into the
feasibility of MNP is being undertaken in neighbouring Azerbaijan,
whose Communications and IT Ministry analysed MNP introduction in
Turkey in November 2008 (seeAzerbaijan: 31 October 2008:).