Number portability to be fully implemented in 2012 says deputy minister

Russia’s deputy IT and Telecommunications Deputy Minister Boris Antonyuk has said that number portability for fixed line and mobile subscribers is ‘unlikely’ to be introduced in Russia until 2012, according to Cellular News quoting business daily Vedomosti. Antonyuk said that around 40% of telephone lines in Russia are still analogue and currently do not allow fixed line subscribers to move to another operator while keeping the same number, adding that networks would not be fully digitalised until 2012.