Consumers across Antigua and Barbuda are on the cusp of a long-awaited shakeup to the country’s telecommunications market, as the government confirms a July rollout for mobile number portability — a policy that will let mobile users switch between local service providers without surrendering their existing phone numbers.
When fully implemented, the reform will extend number portability rights to customers of the nation’s three major mobile and internet providers: Flow, Digicel, and APUA Inet. Officials argue that eliminating the requirement to change phone numbers when switching networks will deliver tangible benefits to consumers, unlocking greater choice for users and injecting healthier competition into a relatively concentrated local telecommunications sector.
Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications, outlined the government’s timeline during a post-Cabinet media briefing held Thursday, confirming that the long-delayed system is on track to go live next month. “Government believes that this should become effective in July of this year,” Merchant stated, clarifying the core function of the policy for consumers: “If you wish to switch from APUA Inet to Flow, you can take your number with you. That’s what number portability is.”
The upcoming launch comes years after the national legislature passed legislation to enable number portability, with implementation held up for an extended period by persistent coordination challenges between the competing telecom operators. When pressed about the years-long delay, Merchant explained that cross-firm collaboration between market rivals has been the biggest barrier to progress. “We must recognize that they are competitors in this field and so collaboration sometimes is not the easiest thing and hence it has taken a while,” he said.
Merchant also highlighted that the policy has the potential to reshape the dynamics of Antigua and Barbuda’s telecom market by lowering the barrier to exit for customers unhappy with their current provider’s service or pricing. “It may mean good for certain providers and it may not, because there may be an exodus of individuals from any particular service provider to another,” he noted.
The number portability plan formed part of a broader Cabinet review of Antigua and Barbuda’s national communications infrastructure, which also covered progress updates on the country’s ongoing subsea cable project and ongoing government efforts to attract new internet service providers to the twin-island nation. All these linked initiatives are designed to boost network reliability for local users, expand competition across the sector, and strengthen the country’s digital communications backbone to support long-term economic development.
Additional details on the rollout schedule, customer registration process, and any associated fees are expected to be announced by Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas in the coming weeks.