If Celcom can't make the deadline, shouldn't they have to pay a fine to the regulator? It's time to put some teeth into MCMC.

I have no plans to change operators (I like Digi, they've always been good to me) but I am looking forward to portability because I know it will mean better offers and lower prices.

Only sad thing is that it's not complete - doesn't include fixed-line numbers like 03. Oh well.

I want to do my own call routing. When I lived in USA for a while, I had two numbers that all my contacts knew: one for HP and one for fixed line. When I left, I ported them both to a VoIP provider and now have them ringing on my Digi line (depending on caller identification and time of day).

Also, having full portability presupposes that calls to all numbers (fixed and mobile) are terminated at the same cost. Reducing mobile termination charges in Malaysia would improve competition.

Probably you just have to ask your friend.

When I visit the USA, I use a prepaid SIM from AT&T. Part of the deal is unlimited free calls to all other AT&T customers. But I never know until after I talk to someone if they were on AT&T - if I see that the last call cost was $0.00, they were. Otherwise not; no way to tell from the number, and no other indication given either.

I've been through a lot of these numbering plan changes in a lot of countries.

They always use a fixed number, or at least a predictable scheme (for example, repeat the second digit, so 12 333 4444 becomes 122 333 4444 and 16 777 8888 becomes 166 777 8888).

Adding a random number would be a nightmare. How would you get in touch with your contacts to find out what their new numbers are?

---

Added on August 19, 2008, 4:37 amMCMC has got to be about the stupidest organisation on the planet. I just read their document - http://www.skmm.gov.my/what_we_do/numberin...variation08.pdf - concerning the extra digit for mobile numbers.

It provides no implementation guidelines, it's like they thought about this over tea one morning and that was it. And they describe the new number format as: 01Y ZXXX XXXX, where Y is the variable part of a "mobile network identifier". But this totally ignores MNP. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

The document later describes 018 as being "available" even though U-Mobile had already received this assignment at that time.

This post has been edited by rajulkabir: Aug 19 2008, 04:37 AM

It's not related.

Porting starts tomorrow.

The extra digit to be added to all handphone numbers (including ripoff "VIP" ones) starts at some secret future time, once they have actually decided how to do it, and does not have any connection to porting.

I doubt it. In other places where number portability has come into effect, the individual carriers are still allocated blocks of numbers by the numbering plan authority (or cooperative industry body). So numbers that have not been ported yet still fall into the ranges that "belong" to the issuing carrier.

If he cancels the line he will lose the number. He should go straight to Digi and they will initiate the process.

Cheap rates, easy company to deal with, doesn't fuçk around with customers.

I think that is the natural trajectory of any MNP discussion.

A doorway? A suitcase?

Digi prepaid is great for SMS while traveling overseas - free to receive, RM0.99 to send back to Malaysia. 365-day reload validity for RM30 fee.

Some of us were already on Digi so no need to port.