JT has said that allowing its customers to switch to the recently launched Coop Mobile network is complex and will take time – after the supermarket said it was making a formal complaint to the competition regulator over the speed of transfers.
The Coop claiming that JT is dragging its feet in letting customers take their existing JT number to its new network.
It argues that the transfer has already been thoroughly tested and there is no reason why JT cannot let numbers ‘port’ to their network, which sits on the Sure network.
However, taxpayer-owned JT argue that number porting from JT to Coop Mobile forms part of a wider programme, which includes removing “high risk” Chinese-made equipment.
The Coop’s new mobile service was due to launch in October, but this was delayed when the porting issue came to light. However, the Coop said that it could wait no more, especially after successful tests with JT around moving numbers had been completed last year.
In a recent letter to members, the society said: “We know that being able to keep your existing number is one of the most important things when switching provider.
“Unfortunately, we’ve been told by JT that their customers won’t be able to transfer their numbers to Coop Mobile until further work has been completed.
“This is disappointing and will limit choice for JT customers who want to join Coop Mobile. Mobile number portability is a standard regulatory requirement, and we don’t believe this delay is reasonable.
“We’re actively challenging this with the regulator and will continue to push hard to have number transfers made available as soon as possible.”
Society chief Mark Cox told the JEP: “We did a lot of work with JT last year with tests around number portability and we were led to believe that this was all successful.
“However, JT has said that it won’t be able to get around to this until May, which is unacceptable.
“We have had no issue with Sure, who have carried out a major upgrade and merged with Airtel at the same time, so this is all within the art of the possible.”
However, JT countered: “Coop Mobile operates on the Sure network, which means there is little or no technical porting required between Sure and Coop Mobile, as they use the same underlying infrastructure.
“Porting between JT and Coop Mobile involves separate networks and is therefore more complex. JT is currently in the final stages of a significant network upgrade programme, including the removal of high-risk vendor equipment in line with government security regulations.
It added: “These regulations apply across telecoms operators and require the removal of such equipment from networks operated by both JT and Sure/Coop. This work has been under way for four years and remains a top operational priority for JT.
“Number porting from JT to Coop Mobile forms part of this wider programme. Implementing this change requires detailed technical configuration and coordination between operators and must be carefully managed within the sequencing of the upgrade programme.
“It also introduces potential risk to the correct routing of traffic, a matter that JT takes extremely seriously in light of its obligations and responsibilities in carrying 999 emergency call traffic.
It concluded: “We are in active discussions with Sure/Coop regarding their detailed technical requirements and implementation timelines. Once the necessary configuration has been received and reviewed, we will determine how this work can best be scheduled within the programme.”
The Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority confirmed that it had received complaints from both Sure and the Coop regarding the current inability of JT customers to port their mobile numbers to the new Coop Mobile service.
Chief executive officer of the authority Tim Ringsdore: “Number portability is an important feature of a competitive telecoms market, ensuring that consumers can switch providers easily and choose the service that best meets their needs.
“We are actively engaging with all relevant operators, as well as our colleagues at the Guernsey Competition & Regulatory Authority, to understand the cause of the issue and to support its resolution as quickly as possible.
“Our priority is to ensure that the mobile market continues to operate in a way that promotes fair competition and protects consumer choice.”
