Orange supports “the unconditional decision of Armenian authorities to put in place the MNP in July 2013”

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Orange Armenia CEO Francis Gelibter said that “Orange supports the unconditional decision of Armenian authorities to put in place the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in July 2013.”

Francis Gelibter said this commenting by Mediamax’s request on Orange Armenia’s position on MNP introduction.

“From the beginning of this month, the topic of Mobile Number Portability has become very actual and has been fiercely debated.

Orange supports the unconditional decision of Armenian authorities to put in place the Mobile Number Portability in July 2013.

MNP gives freedom to customers to choose whichever operator they want, without loosing their number. We will do everything to have a successful implementation of this long-awaited initiative, including sharing the wide experience of Orange Group in European countries as and when needed. By the way, this service has been fully implemented in all EU countries as it is obligatory by the legislations of all EU countries as a customer right.

We are now celebrating our third anniversary with the campaign “Time to join Orange” and I am very proud that Orange is more than often an innovative operator, whose initiatives are followed in the market. In less than four years, we have built a modern network covering over 95% of the population and are growing our presence every month. Mobile Number Portability will bring a real choice to customers and will immediately improve the telecommunications services rendered to the population.   

And finally, all the operators believe that they are the best choice for the customers, and it is quite natural. But Mobile Number Portability will give the last word to the client, who should be the judge of our merits,” Francis Gelibter told Mediamax.

It should be noted that addressing a press conference on November 5, Francis Gelibter said that a regulatory framework for Mobile Number Portability will be created in Armenia in mid 2013 and all the necessary conditions for introducing the system will be established.

Member of Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) Samvel Arabajyan commented on this statement in an interview to Mediamax, saying that the PSRC is going to announce the main areas and principles of MNP introduction in late 2012 and the dates may also be announced.

Addressing a press conference on November 7, ArmenTel CEO Igor Klimko said that “the international experience of MNP introduction is controversial.”

On November 20, “VivaCell-MTS” General Manger Ralph Yirikian commented on the idea of introduction of MNP by Mediamax’s request, saying that MNP introduction in Armenia will be logical in case the 3 operators prove equal coverage.