Barbados becomes the latest Caribbean nation to enable customers to keep their mobile numbers when they change service provider.
David Ishmael, the country’s Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST), commented: ‘I am elated to announce that Barbados’ telecommunications sector has come of age. This government, your government, has delivered on its promise to introduce Local Number Portability to Barbados. The ability for customers to be able to make an unfettered choice of one service provider over another – a fundamental consumer right – is now possible.’
The Barbadian process is mandated by its government and will ensure mobile numbers are ported within 24 hours, and fixed numbers within five days. It’s free to consumers, although they may have to pay a small fee to unlock their handsets.
Barbados is the latest Caribbean nation to introduce the service, with the Eastern Caribbean States of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent, and the Grenadines introducing it in June 2019. Cayman introduced it in 2012, Jamaica in 2015 and Trinidad in 2016.