Number Portability

For those who doubted that it was possible for a telecom service user to maintain the same number assigned to his/her phone, regardless of the provider or service area, there’s news for you: such capability, known as number portability, will become available as of the middle of 2009, according to the Brazilian Telecom Authority - Anatel.

Although such portability had been implied since the Telebrás System privatization, there is no specific regulatory benchmark until this date.

Meanwhile, three Bills were proposed for the matter, but failed to be approved by the Legislative Body. Most recently, Anatel formalized the issue, and submitted it for Public Consultation.

According to the regulation proposed, the infrastructure required for implementing the portability will be funded by providers. In turn, users will bear the cost of such capability, and, although Anatel expects "fair and reasonable" rates will be charged, in a single or a number of installments, the interest in