Press release

O2 supports the proposal of the Telecommunications Office of the Slovak Republic to cancel the fee for number portability

Bratislava, 28 May 2009

Introduction of a maximum 5-day deadline to transfer a number to a different telecommunication operator is a victory for customers. After 29 months of O2’s intensive efforts, the Telecommunications Office prepared a new measure which sets the deadline for transferring a number to a maximum of 5 working days. The Slovak customers will be able to enjoy the European standard of this service very soon.

"Both customers and operators consider the introduction of a five-day deadline and simplification of the entire portability procedure an important step. We also appreciate the recommendation of the Telecommunications Office not to charge fees for mobile number portability services. The new measure of the Office paves the way for the removal of another barrier on the mobile operator market. Therefore we appeal to our competition (Orange Slovakia and T-Mobile Slovakia) to join us in a fast-track modification of the number transfer system to implement new rules in practice as soon as possible," René Parák, O2 spokesperson and Media Relations Manager, says.

European trend
At present, Slovakia’s legislation sets the limit of 25 working days to transfer a telephone number. Slovakia thus ranked among the EU countries with the longest deadline (UK – 2 days, or 2 hours effective as of 1 September 2009; Ireland, Malta – 1 day; Germany, Austria – 3 days; Luxembourg – 4 days; the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Sweden – 5 days). The reduced deadline is therefore a trend which is based on possibilities offered by an automated process of number portability.

O2’s 29-month pressure
The deadline curtailed to 5 working days is a result of 29 months of O2’s intensive effort. After 17 months of pressure exerted by O2 and the Office on the two operators, an automated transfer system was made available also for the third mobile operator 12 months ago (5 May 2008). O2 was the only operator in Slovakia which prepared an information campaign for all mobile phone users in Slovakia on possibilities and advantages related to the portability of numbers.

O2 has launched preparations
With respect to the planned amendments to the currently applicable mobile number portability regulations, Telefónica O2 Slovakia performed a set of tests concerning an automated transfer system. Based on this testing, O2 specialists have designed a plan of steps which the operators are invited follow.

Telefónica O2 Slovakia - contacts

Annex 1

Transferred numbers, January – March 2009 (3 months)
 

All press releases of Telefónica O2 Slovakia are available on www.sk.o2.com.

About Telefónica O2 Slovakia, s.r.o.
Telefónica O2 Slovakia entered the Slovak market of mobile operators on the basis of the decision issued by the selection committee of the Telecommunication Authority of the SR as of 25.8.2006. The license includes the rights to use the frequencies GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, UMTS and 28/29 GHz for the period of 20 years for the purpose of providing telecommunication services in the Slovak Republic. The company launched its commercial operation on 2.2.2007. The company is gradually introducing the offer for the whole spectrum of customers. Within the international group Telefónica, Telefónica O2 Slovakia belongs to the group Telefónica Europe.

About Telefónica Europe
The company Telefónica Europe consists of the mobile networks operators in Great Britain and Ireland, and also of integrated operators of fixed and mobile networks in Germany and the Czech Republic. All these operators present themselves to their local customers under the brand-name Telefónica. Telefónica Europe is the holder of 50% share in the joint stock companies Tesco Mobile in Great Britain and Tchibo Mobilfunk in Germany; At the same time it is also 100% holder of the company Be, the leader in providing broad band services in Great Britain. To the group also belongs the operator of fixed and mobile services on the island Man - the company Manx Telecom.

Telefónica Europe, belonging to the group Telefónica, has its headquarters in Slough in Great Britain, it has more then 43 million customers in fixed and mobile networks.

About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the world's largest telecommunications operators by market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses, while its broadband business is the key growth driver underpinning both. It operates in 25 countries and has a global customer base of 260 million. Telefónica's growth strategy is focused on the markets in which it has a strong foothold: Spain, Europe and Latin America. Telefónica is a 100% private sector company with its shares listed in Madrid and other stock exchanges and more than 1.5 million individual shareholders.

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