MNP and LNP coming in May 2015 - MNP and LNP in Jamaica delayed as Sheriff Julian Robinson caught in a Telecom Providers Standoff

Earlier in March 2014, State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson, had announced that MNP (Mobile Number Portability) and LNP (Landline Number Portability) has been delayed until December 2014 as stated in “Number portability by end of year”, Published Thursday March 6, 2014, The Jamaica Gleaner and “Gov't closer to implementing number portability”, published Tuesday, March 04, 2014 6:25 PM, The Jamaica Observer.

Now it appears to be delayed yet again until May 2015 according to State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Julian Robinson in a Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday June 11^th, 2014 as reported in “Number portability delayed to May 2015”, Published Wednesday June 11, 2014 3:53 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The reason for the holdup this time?

Telecom Provider LIME, who are prepared to implement MNP but not LNP, claiming that it's due to their Legacy Network which will take time to make available for this facility as reported in “LIME could cause further delays in number portability”, Published Friday June 13, 2014, by Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

As usual, Opposition spokesperson for Science, ICT, Digital Economy Development and the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, made it his duty to personally chastise both Minister Phillip Paulwell and State Minister Julian Robinson. He blamed them for implementing a ICT (Information and Computer Technology) Strategy that seems more like a patchwork quilt rather than a timeline based planned implementation of an ICT Roadmap as stated in the article “Wheatley gives Paulwell, Robinson failing grades in ICT management”, published Tuesday, June 10, 2014 6:40 PM, The Jamaica Observer.   

He also laid the blame squarely at their feet as it relates to Jamaica’s fall from 79^th to 86^th in the Global Rankings in the recent WEF  GITR (Global Information Technology Report) 2014 when compared to WEF GITR 2013 entitled “Growth and Jobs in a Hyperconnected World” as stated in my blog article entitled “Jamaica 86th in the WEP GITR 2014 Rankings – UNCHR Rights to Broadband Legislation to financial empower Jamaican and Caribbean Nationals”.

Meanwhile both Telecom Provider Digicel and Triple Play Provider FLOW are ready like Freddy to go LNP and MNP, especially LNP as they're gunning for Telecom Provider LIME's Fixed Line and Landline Customers. Both these Telecoms Providers are going double or nothing, with the intent to have MNP and LNP instead of the half-canter start of MNP that Telecom Provider LIME is offering.

LIME, Digicel and FLOW Standoff – How the MNP and LNP affects Competition in Jamaica

These Customers are Telecom Provider LIME’s Crown Jewels and are set to be a major money maker in the future for Telecom Provider Digicel and Triple Play Provider FLOW as noted in my blog article entitled “Digicel rolls out DigiHome, their first Residential Postpaid Fixed Line Service - Ramp up for Landline Number Portability and LIME’s Homefone XPress”.

Equally, Telecom Provider LIME is trying to gun for more of Telecom Provider Digicel and Triple Play Provider FLOW customers to continue their fabulous profitability run thus far as stated in my blog article entitled “CWC Report ending March 2014 indicates LIME Jamaica's improving Bottom Line - Project Marlin heralds Solar Powered Telecom Provider to Reduce Operating Costs”.

Folks, a lot is at stake here and based on State Minister Julian Robinson’s words, this doesn’t even sound like a done deal, as Telecom Provider LIME sounds kinda iffy as it relates to sticking to the May 2015 deadline.

Back then I’d done a blog article entitled “State Minister Julian Robinson has announced that MNP is delayed until December 2014 - ICT Roadmap in shambles as Fourth Delay Suggest Telecom Provider's Stalling the Process” explaining why MNP and LNP has to be implemented.

This is in order for Jamaica to get additional Number Ranges from the NANP (North American Numbering Plan) in order to allow a Third Competitors to successfully compete in Jamaica Mobile, Landline and Data Services Market as explained in as stated in my blog article entitled “OUR applies for new Area Code for Jamaica - Competition in Telecoms in the coming Hunger Games Catching Fire of Mobile Computing”.

Regulator still on Track – Third Competitor in Data Services can only provide non-SIM based WiMaX

Ok.

So MNP and LNP is out for this year altogether. Hopefully the post of Consultant to the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) will be filled by Thursday June 26^th, 2014 as per schedule as reported in my blog article entitled “OUR to hire Consultant for LRIC Study on Landline - JA$1.49 per minute for Fixed Line and Landline Flat Rate as MNP, LNP Approaches”.

That Consultant is to advise the OUR on adjustments to rates for Landline via a mathematical algorithm known as the LRIC (Long Run Incremental Cost) model. Hopefully too, there should be a Regulator in place for Telecommunications aside from the OUR acting in that capacity.

By May 2015, assuming all things are equal, we should have MNP and LNP. By then a Third Competitor, possibly Dekal Wireless, may begin purchasing spectrum and building out their faster 801.11ac Wi-Fi Network as speculated in my blog article entitled “New Telecom Provider in Jamaica to build Wireless 4G Data Network - Hidden Dekal Wireless WiMaX or Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11ac Dragon to Rise in the Year of the Horse” to compete with the coming speed increases from the Big Three Telecom Providers.