The government has set a September deadline for implementing mobile number portability, with the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission prepared to issue mandatory directions if telecom operators do not reach agreement.
Sri Lanka is moving forward with mobile number portability after years of delays, with Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne announcing in Parliament that implementation will occur by the end of September. The TRCSL will issue directions under the Sri Lanka Telecommunication Act and operators' licence conditions to enforce the system if necessary.
Mobile number portability allows customers to switch between service providers while retaining their existing phone numbers. The Deputy Minister emphasized that prioritizing mobile number portability ahead of fixed-line services would prevent the majority of subscribers from being inconvenienced by disputes affecting only some operators.
The initiative has a lengthy history of development. Preliminary work began in August 2020 when TRCSL initiated foundational measures. The following year, Lanka Portability—a company comprising all major telecom operators—was established, and TRCSL granted approval for mobile number portability in October 2021. Framework documentation followed in 2022, with legal clearance for service providers announced in 2023.
The government's decision to set a firm deadline represents an escalation in efforts to bring the service to market. Should telecom operators fail to voluntarily implement the system by September, the TRCSL will impose the mechanism through regulatory direction, ensuring the service launches regardless of industry coordination challenges.
