Switch to Keep Number: "Orange and Emtel Forced to Lower Their Prices"

What customer wants, customer might soon get. With the entry into force of portability service numbers next month. What this implies in particular? That customers will be able to change mobile operator while retaining their mobile number.

In any case, the Minister Tassarajen Chedumbrum Pillay believes that with this service, mobile operators Orange and Emtel will have no choice but to lower their prices or be aligned with those of Mahanagar Telecom Mauritius (MTML) .

Indeed, this operator is currently one that offers the most competitive rates. Namely, Rs 1.15 per minute to all mobile operators. It also has, more recently, a 24 hour pass for unlimited calls to numbers and a MTML and SMS package 100 SMS for Rs 25, or 25 cents per text message.

In comparison, Emtel and Orange are much more expensive. The cost of a subscriber calls' Emtel to Emtel is Rs 0.96 per minute, to another mobile operator to Rs 3.60 per minute to a fixline at Rs 3.45 per minute. The cost of calls' from Orange to Orange is Rs 1.20 per minute, Orange mobile operator to another Rs 3.60 per minute and Orange , fixline Rs 3.48 a minute.

If the minister said he was surprised that the two operators have not tried so far to offer more competitive prices to match supply MTML, he argues that they are " surprised "when portability numbers will be in effect. They will then have no choice but to match or offer a cheaper rate.

According to the Numbering Plan 2009 of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority , customers can change operators while retaining their numbers. But remains vague about the price. There are, however, several ways to access the network operator. Including changing the SIM card. Another way: choose the operator from his phone through codes sent by SMS.