Subscribers may still outstanding payments on the mobile telephone itself.
Ministry of Communications figures for the first year of number portability show that, since the measure was introduced in December 2007, 606,000 telephone subscribers have taken advantage of the measure, of whom 383,000 were cellular telephone subscribers and 220,000 were landline telephony subscribers.
The Ministry of Communications added that number portability is now a fait accompli in Israel and a basic right of every telephony subscriber, especially cellular subscribers, where its absence had been a major barrier to switching operators. The ministry said that number portability now operated smoothly, with no major problems, hence its importance.
Before changing operators, a subscriber should check the fine for leaving and any outstanding payments on the mobile telephone itself. Most operators spread the payments on handsets over a 36-month contract.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 25, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008