US to introduce mobile number portability by November

A US court has upheld the right of the FCC to introduce number portability services by November. Verizon Wireless and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) appealed against the measure, alleging that the regulating body had exceeded its limit of authority on the issue. The pair have claimed that they would have to reroute funds from other areas of business in order to comply with the ruling, forecasting initial outlays of up to USD1 billion in the first year and USD500 million for each consecutive year thereafter. This is the third time since June 1999 that the deadline for number portability has been delayed; operators opposed to the move claim that they are still continuing to explore their legislative options.