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OTTAWA - September 12, 2005 - Further to its commissioning of an independent report on the implementation of wireless number portability (WNP) in June of this year, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) today announced that the plan has been reviewed by industry stakeholders and has been provided to government officials.
The comprehensive 64-page report, completed by the global firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) earlier this month, examined the hundreds of technical, inter-carrier and regulatory tasks and issues that need to be addressed in order for telecommunications companies to offer number portability. After a full review of the report by the CWTA's WNP Task Force, the group has identified mid-2007 as the timeframe for a pilot trial to begin testing WNP in a limited area. WNP, which will enable customers to transfer phone numbers between wireless service providers and also between landline and wireless service, is set to be available on a national basis in September 2007.
Unlike the “phased-in” approach adopted by some other jurisdictions where WNP was introduced in different geographic areas over an extended period of time, WNP in Canada will become available to the vast majority of consumers and enterprise customers from coast to coast at the same time. The WNP Task Force believes this is a significant implementation strategy that will offer an equitable, smooth and reliable introduction of the new service for all Canadians.
The target implementation date that has been identified by the wireless industry is contingent upon the timely resolution of a number of outstanding issues, and the full cooperation of Canada 's telecommunications sector. However, the WNP Task Force will begin the implementation process immediately and will provide progress updates as warranted.
“ Canada will be only the third country in the world to offer complete wireless-to-wireless, wireless-to-wireline and wireline-to-wireless portability,” said Peter Barnes, CWTA President & CEO. “The implementation timeline we are announcing today is aggressive given the complexities of introducing WNP, but Canada 's wireless industry is confident in its ability to deliver this new service to Canadians.”
The “Conclusion” portion of PwC's report follows this release. The full report is available at http://www.cwta.ca/CWTASite/english/pdf/
CWTA_WNP_Project_Plan_Report.pdf.
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA )
CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada . It represents cellular, PCS, messaging, mobile radio, fixed wireless and mobile satellite carriers as well as companies that develop and produce products and services for the industry.
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For more information, contact:
Marc Choma
CWTA
613-233-4888 ext. 207
mchoma@cwta.ca
This news release contains forward-looking statements which represent CWTA's best judgement as to what may occur in the future. However, actual outcome and results are not guaranteed and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may differ from what is expressed.
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CONCLUSION
PricewaterhouseCoopers, September 2005
In addition to the technical complexity, the biggest obstacle to a successful WNP implementation is the challenge of balancing a kaleidoscope of overlapping and competing interests across the national pool of stakeholders. Stakeholder support is critical to plan development and implementation, which must be recognized as effective, efficient and fair.
As outlined in this report, we believe that the earliest and most expedient national common launch date for WNP is Wednesday, September 12, 2007 . The capability would be launched in exchanges where LNP exists at the time and cover simple and complex ports and resellers. It will be built upon the infrastructure and processes used for LNP today, but modified to accommodate the needs of wireless customers, both consumer and business. All stakeholders who have had input to this plan have committed to keeping the customer experience as a focal point for decision making. WNP would be rolled out to those non-LNP exchanges in conjunction with a CRTC-approved process for opening new wireline areas.
What gives us a high level of confidence in the integrity of these recommendations is more than just the breadth and depth of our inquiry process in conducting interviews with key industry stakeholders; consulting with the internal and external specialists and professionals that comprise the PwC telecommunications practice; reviewing independent research on WNP from around the world; and evaluating a full complement of strategic, tactical and technical alternatives for introducing WNP in Canada.
What also gives us the ability to stand behind each of these recommendations with confidence is that our arriving at these conclusions in an independent and objective manner disciplined by the crucial set of strategic planning principles. At each step of the process, we went to great lengths to apply these planning principles rigorously and methodically to our analyses of all alternatives and options.
Finally, we believe that if these recommendations are used to support a consensus-based, customer-friendly WNP implementation, Canada will have established itself in a position to define a new world-class standard in WNP implementation not perhaps, as a stated goal in and of itself, but as a natural outcome of a well-conceived, stakeholder-supported and industry-led initiative.
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