Most people are attached to their cell phones these days, so if you have a good number all memorized, you may not want to ever let it go. If your one of those people, then you’ll be happy to know that the Philippine Senate approved a bill yesterday that will allow you to keep your number forever.
Yes, forever. Even if you decide to change your service provider.
Called The Lifetime Cellphone Number Act, it mandates that telcos allow subscribers to keep their numbers even when they move to a competing service provider. Smart to Globe, Globe to Smart, it doesn’t matter.
This service will be free of charge and should be done within 24 hours after the subscriber’s application.
Telcos will be fined up to PHP1 million (US$19,192.71) and could get their franchise revoked if they refuse to comply.
Those who want to switch from a prepaid account to a postpaid one can also keep their numbers.
“The bill would give consumers them (sic) the freedom to choose the provider that would give the best value for their money without having to lose or change their mobile numbers,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the author of the bill told reporters.
This is a game changer for Filipinos, who often switch service providers depending on the promos offered. It’ll also be helpful for those who have lost their phones.
Imagine, if this bill is enacted, you don’t ever have to message your entire contact list about your new number and tell them all about how your phone got stolen on your way to work.
Those who aren’t subscribed to a postpaid plan or any prepaid promos will also benefit because the bill will require telcos to charge the same amount for texts and calls to numbers from a different provider. At the moment, subscribers need to pay an extra PHP1 (US$.02) per minute when calling a number from a different provider.
Senate approved the bill unanimously but it still has to go through the House of Representatives for approval.
