Mobile number portability arrives in Malaysia

Mobile number portability (MNP), which allows mobile phone subscribers to switch carriers while retaining their numbers (including the prefix), has finally arrived in Malaysia.

With mobile phone penetration at nearly 97 percent and MNP now rolled out, consumers will stand to gain from the intense competition for market share that will ensue.

Now that consumers can switch as they like--the ceiling price for switching is only 25 ringgit (US$7.4)--telcos will really have to get creative if they want to retain their subscriber base.