Under a Public Advisory notice offering Determination 2016/01, The Telecommunicaitons Authority of Trinidad and Tobago noted the following…
The Telecommunicaitons Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (the Authority) wishes to advise the public that it has considered all the available information as to technical readiness of Operators to implement number portability and has made the following FINAL DETERMINATION for the implementation of Number Portability in Trinidad and Tobago pursuant to Section 25(2)(j) of the Telecommunications Act (the Act).
The dates by which Operators shall implement Number Portability, namely the “go-live” date is:MOBILE TO MOBILE
Monday October 31, 2016
FIXED TO FIXED
Monday November 28, 2016The Authority declares that it shall cease forthwith to exercise forbearance on non-compliance by Operators who are subject to this DETERMINATION.
TATT has offered two extensions to local operators in the Number Portability project, allowing the deadline to slip for more than six months.
The Authority’s extensive use of capitals in this public advisory suggests that they may be planning to exercies penalties under the Telecommunications Act for Operators who blow this final deadline.
The affected operators are Digicel (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited, Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago, Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited, Lisa Telecommunications, Open Telecom and Massy Communications Limited (formerly Three Sixty Communications).
By mutual agreement, Porting XS BV was appointed as the technical service for the project in October 2014.
TATT contracted Tachyon Consultores, SAS on February 18, 2015 to analyse the project and guide the authority’s approach. On July 20, 2016, Tachyon Consultores, SAS reviewed the readiness for number portability and based on that assessment, the current determination was issued.
TATT is authorised to fine operators under item 78 of the Act, chapter 47:31 of the laws of T&T, the sum of $50,000 for defying regulations related to interconnection among other communal service requirements of concessionaires under the Act. In circumstances such as this, it is not uncommon for such fines to be applied for each day that the infringement of the law continues.
