Phone number transfer takes only one day - RATEL procures software and necessary equipment

- The Ministry of Telecommunications of Serbia have given consent for the Regulations governing the telephone number transferability submitted to them by the Republic Telecommunications Agency (RATEL), but they have also recommended to that Agency to order the software and necessary equipment in order to enable the telephone number transfer procedure to be finished at one window within 24 hours, instead of two days, as it was initially anticipated by the Regulations - Jasna Matić, the Minister of Telecommunications, told Blic.

In addition, the Ministry will suggest RATEL start the process of changing the Regulations in order to make it possible for citizens to transfer fixed telephone number as well.

RATEL created the Regulations governing that service and forwarded them to the Ministry of Telecommunications for verification at the end of the last year.

- Since the plan is that the transferability of numbers be possible starting from January 1st, 2011, and since it is necessary that technical applications lasts for minimum nine months, we have ordered RATEl to order the software and equipment that is necessary to make that function, as well as to enable complete harmonization with European directives. That means that there is an absolute principle of single window, that everything is done within 24 hours, and that the transferability of numbers is possible in the fixed telephony as well. Once the license for fixed telephony is issued, we will order RATEL to change the Regulations in order to enable transferability of fixed telephony numbers as well - Matić pointed out.

By the way, transferability of telephone numbers exists in all EU countries, which stipulate competitiveness in mobile telephony market in that way.