SINGAPORE: Come June 13, cellphone subscribers in Singapore will enjoy full mobile number portability.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) says the new solution will replace the current one where a mobile subscriber holds two numbers so that calls to his old number are call-forwarded to a new one.

Subscribers who are porting their numbers have until May 14 to decide which number they want to retain.

Singapore mobile subscribers were one of the first in the world to enjoy mobile number portability through this call-forwarding solution when it was launched here in 1997.

When implemented from June 13, full mobile number portability will allow anyone who wishes to keep their current number when they switch mobile operator, to do so by the next working day. This spares them the hassle of updating their family, friends and business contacts about a new number.

The long-awaited move is expected to intensify competition amongst telcos which will now have to compete aggressively not just to win market share but to retain existing customers.

Singapore's mobile subscription stands at more than 5.8 million. - CNA/ir