Peruvian telecoms watchdog the Supervisory Agency for Private Investment in Telecommunications (Organismo Supervisor de Inversion Privada en Telecommuniciones, Osiptel) has introduced new rules to improve fixed and mobile number portability services. With effect from the end of August, subscribers can repeatedly port their phone number between networks with a minimum gap of one month between ports, whilst the porting process (currently operating Monday-Saturday excluding holidays) must now be effective Monday to Sunday including holidays to speed up transfers.
Also this week, Osiptel published for comment a proposal to modify the General Tariff Regulation to force cellcos to introduce a ‘fairer’ range of end user tariffs. In particular, the watchdog pointed to the multitude of subscribers on mobile tariff plans effectively superseded by more competitive newer packages – wherein subscribers to the new packs pay similar fees to the ‘old’ tariffs yet receive significant additional benefits including higher internet speeds and access to applications without data consumption charges. Osiptel’s proposed measures include a requirement for operators to adapt their commercial offers within 18 months to fit revised guidelines designed to eliminate ‘unjustified discrimination in which some pay more than others for the same service’, plus the compulsory introduction of an app to inform users about the best mobile plans available according to their consumption habits (with a six-month implementation deadline), and changes to existing marketing rules to prevent encouraging users to purchase ‘unwanted services’.
Osiptel also proposed removing an existing rule which restricts the term of mobile service promotions to six months, with the aim of generating greater competition by giving operators ‘adequate flexibility’ and fostering customer loyalty. A public hearing on the proposals is scheduled for 14 August.
