OXFORD, United Kingdom—Five Italian cell-phone operators have agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to a ruling from the country’s telecom regulator to a revised number portability fee. From 30 November, the maximum fee allowed, according to the regulator, will be 10 euros (US$8.80) for users wanting to keep their cell-phone numbers but move to other operators.
Five of the Italian operators involved had previously agreed to a 27 euro (US$23.70) fee without consulting the regulator, which has now imposed the 10 euro fee, bringing mobile operators in line with fixed-line operators. Hutchison Whampoa’s cell-phone operation, H3G, had sought a lower fee to encourage competition.
The regulator made no ruling on how to deal with prepaid users, though operators are expected to decide themselves how to deal with unused credits held by subscribers.
