Frequently Asked Questions

The specific price of the Number Portability Clearinghouse depends on several factors, such as your set-up and requirements. These are the most important aspects that determine pricing:  

• Local or cloud hosting: the solution can either run in the cloud or in a local data center. Cloud hosting gives you more flexibility and is cost-effective;
• Market size: a bigger market (e.g., number of subscribers and connections) means more porting requests, which impact platform requirements. Note that this is only a price determining factor pre-launch. An active solution can be scaled without additional costs.
• Specific needs: if we align the number portability process with international best practices, we will be able to configure the platform without customization. This results in an economical solution and shorter time to market.  
• Contract term: a longer term of the contract allows you more time and opportunity to recover costs than a shorter term contract.

Experience shows that implementation of the number portability usually takes 9 to 12 months, from project launch to a fully available service for end users. The part where PXS is mainly involved – specification gathering, implementation and training – is completed in four months.

After those four months, all operators need to be connected and the solution must be thoroughly tested. This includes porting functionality testing and routing tests run between operators.

Successful adaptation of number portability largely depends on the end user’s familiarity with the service. We recommend running a promotional campaign pre-launch.

Introducing number portability will affect the current business processes of operators. To make sure everything functions as planned, it is important that operators adjust their systems within two important domains:

1. BSS/CRM: administrative system processes and workflows must be adjusted in order to handle requests of customers who want to join or leave the operator.
2. Core network and routing systems: routing functions must be adjusted to confirm that calls and text messages are delivered to the correct network. If this is not set up correctly, calls or texts will never be received.

Need more support? Our Number Portability Gateway is a proven solution giving operators peace of mind and helping them to get their systems ready for number portability.

The Number Portability Clearinghouse complies with all international best practices for number portability, including:

• Recipient-led process: the porting process is initiated and led by the recipient operator. After all, this is the party the customer wants to switch to. It prevents ‘win-back’ activities by the donor operator.
• Customer validation: validation is key to the verification of a porting request. Of course, the recipient operator will check the identity of the new customer. Additionally, the Number Portability Clearinghouse will verify the subscriber’s porting request (e.g., through SMS validation).
• Personal data minimization: the Number Portability Clearinghouse exchanges as little customer data as possible and minimizes the amount of personal data processed in order to ensure fast and easy porting.

Introducing number portability liberalizes the telecom market and offers the following benefits:

• Driving competition: enabling number portability prevents the existence of monopolies in the telecom market. Numbers are easily switched to another operator, giving smaller operators a better shot at a market share. 
• Improved business climate: as number portability liberates the telecom market, new parties are more likely to enter. This improves the business climate and drives competition.  
• Better quality of service: with increased competition, operators have to improve and invent ways to attract and retain customers. They are more inclined to innovate, to lower their prices and to provide a higher level of service overall.

Running the Number Portability Clearinghouse in the cloud is just as safe as operating it locally. Depending on your local set-up, it may even be safer to run the platform in the cloud. Our application is secure by design, and we take technical and organizational measures for data security and availability. These measures include regular audits and assessments of our solutions, carried out by and independent company.

Also consider these general safety benefits of the cloud:

1. Increased availability: in the cloud, the platform data is stored in multiple data centers that are geo-redundant. If one server goes down, the other server instantly takes over. Achieving this on a local level is expensive.
2. Improved physical security: major cloud providers spare no expense to protect their data centers. They have state-of-the-art physical and digital security, as well as round-the-clock security monitoring.
3. 24/7 security monitoring: cloud providers also invest in a security operations center (SOC), monitoring the infrastructure 24/7. It is costly and challenging to achieve this on a local level.
4. No out-of-date hardware: to run a secure platform locally, hardware has to be replaced when its economical and physical lifecycle ends (usually every five years). This often includes renewing software licenses as well. When using the cloud, this is not an issue.

When number portability is enabled, international voice & SMS routing require extra attention. Calls and messages from international numbers are often routed to the original operator, even if the number has already been ported out.

A commercial agreement on rerouting is common practice, specifying that the original operator forwards calls and SMSes to the new operator. International parties can also receive access to data of the Number Portability Clearinghouse, in order for them to set up their routing correctly. The NPC provider will facilitate the authorization of access.

Everyone using the Number Portability Clearinghouse receives tailored customer support. Documentation is centrally available, and your users are properly onboarded and trained. Because the platform is delivered as a managed service, we will keep it up-to-date and add new functionalities. Of course, the platform is also monitored continuously, to ensure you are notified of issues in a timely manner.

The specific price of the Number Portability Gateway depends on several factors, such as your set-up and requirements. These are the most important aspects that determine pricing:

• Market size: a bigger market (e.g., more users and connections) means more processes, which impact storage, CPU and support needs. Note that this is only a price determining factor pre-launch. An active solution can be scaled without additional costs.
• Contract term: a longer term of the contract allows you more time and opportunity to recover costs than a shorter term contract.

Implementation of the Number Portability Gateway usually takes 3 to 4 months, from project launch to a fully available service for end users. We support you every step of the way: from design to implementation and onboarding, including tailored training and customer support.

We have successfully connected common vendors to our Number Portability Gateway, such as Titanium (NetNumber TITAN), Cerillion, Mavenir, Amdocs and Oracle Tekelec. The Number Portability Clearinghouse Solutions connected are COIN, Descartes, Mediafon, Teletech and obviously our own NPC.

Besides standard interfaces such as API, GUI and sFTP, we also design and implement tailored integrations and interfaces based on the systems to connect.

The Number Portability Gateway instantly gets the operator’s system number portability ready. It is a reliable solution and is in accordance with all modern security standards. Effortless integration of any central number portability database and operator OSS/BSS systems is possible. It also helps you avoid high operational costs through our centralized approach.

Running the Number Portability Gateway in the cloud is just as safe as operating it locally. Depending on your local set-up, it may even be safer to run the platform in the cloud. Our application is secure by design, and we take technical and organizational measures for data security and availability. These measures include regular audits and assessments of our solutions, carried out by and independent company.

 

Also consider these general safety benefits of the cloud:

1. Increased availability: in the cloud, the platform data is stored in multiple data centers that are geo-redundant. If one server goes down, the other server instantly takes over. Achieving this on a local level is expensive.
2. Improved physical security: major cloud providers spare no expense to protect their data centers. They have state-of-the-art physical and digital security, as well as round-the-clock security monitoring.
3. 24/7 security monitoring: cloud providers also invest in a security operations center (SOC), monitoring the infrastructure 24/7. It is costly and challenging to achieve this on a local level.
4. No out-of-date hardware: to run a secure platform locally, hardware has to be replaced when its economical and physical lifecycle ends (usually every five years). This often includes renewing software licenses as well. When using the cloud, this is not an issue.

Everyone using the Number Portability Gateway receives tailored customer support. Documentation is centrally available, and your users are properly onboarded and trained. Because the platform is delivered as a managed service, we will keep it up-to-date and add new functionalities. Of course, the platform is also monitored continuously, to ensure you are notified of issues in a timely manner.

The specific price of the Number Management System depends on several factors, such as your set-up and requirements. These are the most important aspects that determine pricing:

 

• Local or cloud hosting: the solution can either run in the cloud, or in a local data center. Cloud hosting gives you more flexibility and is cost-effective.
• Market size: a bigger market (e.g., number of subscribers and connections) means more porting requests, which impact platform requirements. Note that this is only a price determining factor pre-launch. An active solution can be scaled without additional costs.
• Specific needs: if we align the number portability process with international best practices, we will be able to configure the platform without customization. This results in an economical solution and shorter time to market.
• Contract term: a longer term of the contract allows you more time and opportunity to recover costs than a shorter term contract.

Experience shows that implementation of the Number Management System usually takes 4 to 6 months, from project launch to a fully available service for end users. The part where PXS is mainly involved – specification gathering, implementation and training – is completed in four months. After those four months, all operators have to get connected and the solution must be thoroughly tested.

The Number Management System is beneficial to both regulators and operators. It is a one-stop-shop for all actions regarding number management.

 

• Benefits for operators: operators are able to view their assigned number ranges and resources in the portal. In addition, they are able to request available numbering ranges and other numbering resources.
• Benefits for regulators: regulators are able to manage numbering resources fast and send invoices directly on the same dashboard.

Running the Number Management System in the cloud is just as safe as operating it locally. Depending on your local set-up, it may even be safer to run the platform in the cloud. Our application is secure by design, and we take technical and organizational measures for data security and availability. These measures include regular audits and assessments of our solutions, carried out by and independent company.

 

Also consider these general safety benefits of the cloud:

1. Increased availability: in the cloud, the platform data is stored in multiple data centers that are geo-redundant. If one server goes down, the other server instantly takes over. Achieving this on a local level is expensive.
2. Improved physical security: major cloud providers spare no expense to protect their data centers. They have state-of-the-art physical and digital security, as well as round-the-clock security monitoring.
3. 24/7 security monitoring: cloud providers also invest in a security operations center (SOC), monitoring the infrastructure 24/7. It is costly and challenging to achieve this on a local level.
4. No out-of-date hardware: to run a secure platform locally, hardware has to be replaced when its economical and physical lifecycle ends (usually every five years). This often includes renewing software licenses as well. When using the cloud, this is not an issue.

With our Number Management System, operators can clearly see the number ranges or resources assigned to them and view available ranges. New number ranges can be requested through the portal, including other resources. Regulators are able to assign numbers and send invoices directly on the same dashboard.

All number resources in the Number Management System are defined and categorized according to the national numbering plan. No matter where a number is ported, it remains assigned to the original operator. When a customer cancels their subscription, the accompanied number returns to the assignee of the number range.

Everyone using the Number Management System receives tailored customer support. Documentation is centrally available, and your users are properly onboarded and trained. Because the platform is delivered as a managed service, we will keep it up-to-date and add new functionalities. Of course, the platform is also monitored continuously, to ensure you are notified of issues in a timely manner.

The specific price of the Number Information Register depends on several factors, such as your set-up and requirements. These are the most important aspects that determine pricing:

 

• Market size: a bigger market (e.g., number of operators connected) means more processes, which impact platform requirements and support needs. Note that this is only a determining price factor pre-launch. An active solution can be scaled without additional costs.
• Specific needs: if we the align Number Information Register with international best practices, drastic technical adjustments to our solution are often not required; this results in an economical solution and shorter time to market.
• Contract term: a longer term of the contract allows you more time and opportunity to recover costs than a shorter term contract.

Implementation of the Number Information Register usually takes 6 to 12 months, from project launch to a fully available service for all stakeholders. The part where PXS is involved – specification gathering, implementation and training – is completed in four months. After those four months, all operators should get connected and the solution must be thoroughly tested.

It is definitely possible to transfer existing data to the Number Information Register. We will analyze the existing data together and define a migration strategy based on that analysis as part of the project.

The Number Information Register is beneficial to regulators, operators and end users, providing a central solution for the accessing and processing of subscriber data.

 

• Benefits for regulators and operators: one central place for the registration of subscriber details in order to easily comply with laws and regulations.
• Benefits for third parties: it is possible to give access to selected organizations (such as emergency services or law enforcement agencies) to the centralized number information register.
• Benefits for end users: subscribers are able to view their personal details stored and their directory listing preferences.

Running the Number Information Register in the cloud is just as safe as operating it locally. Depending on your local set-up, it may even be safer to run the platform in the cloud. Our application is secure by design, and we take technical and organizational measures for data security and availability. These measures include regular audits and assessments of our solutions, carried out by and independent company.

 

Also consider these general safety benefits of the cloud:

1. Increased availability: in the cloud, the platform data is stored in multiple data centers that are geo-redundant. If one server goes down, the other server instantly takes over. Achieving this on a local level is expensive.
2. Improved physical security: major cloud providers spare no expense to protect their data centers. They have state-of-the-art physical and digital security, as well as round-the-clock security monitoring.
3. 24/7 security monitoring: cloud providers also invest in a security operations center (SOC), monitoring the infrastructure 24/7. It is costly and challenging to achieve this on a local level.
4. No out-of-date hardware: to run a secure platform locally, hardware has to be replaced when its economical and physical lifecycle ends (usually every five years). This often includes renewing software licenses as well. When using the cloud, this is not an issue.

An optional subscriber web portal allows end users to view and modify personal data. This portal will be read-only by default, so end users can only view their personal data stored. It is up to you to decide if end users are granted permission to modify data themselves, or if this should be done by the operator upon request. Our solution supports both processes.

Properly protecting data requires technical and organizational procedures. We guarantee that all data processing complies with local data and privacy protection regulations. All of our security measures are in line with global best practices, with our solutions regularly being tested by an independent company. These tests are based on a cybersecurity assessment, including pen tests, vulnerability tests and infrastructure security tests.

The Number Information Register requires a one-time import of existing data. This dataset must be analyzed, cleaned and converted in advance, to match the format of the register. After the initial migration, operators will be able to keep the data up-to-date through the REST API or CSV files. They get one platform to maintain services such as directory listing preferences and the Do Not Call register.

Everyone using the Number Information Register receives tailored customer support. Documentation is centrally available, and your users are properly onboarded and trained. Because the platform is delivered as a managed service, we will keep it up-to-date and add new functionalities. Of course, the platform is also monitored continuously, to ensure you are notified of issues in a timely manner.

The specific price of the Operator Switching Hub depends on several factors, such as your set-up and requirements. These are the most important aspects that determine pricing:

• Local or cloud hosting: the solution can either run in the cloud or in a local data center. Cloud hosting gives you more flexibility and is cost-effective.
• Market size: a bigger market (e.g., number of subscribers and connections) means more switching requests, which impact platform requirements (and price). Note that this is only determining factor pre-launch. An active solution can be scaled without additional costs.
• Specific needs: if we align the switching process with international best practices, we will be able to easily configure the platform without customization. This results in an economical solution and shorter time to market.
• Contract term: a longer term of the contract allows you more time and opportunity to recover costs than a shorter term contract.

Experience shows that implementation of the Operator Switching Hub usually takes 3 to 6 months, from project launch to a fully available service for end users. The part where PXS is mainly involved – specification gathering, implementation and training – is completed in two months.

After those two months, all operators need to be connected and the solution must be thoroughly tested.

Successful adaptation of service switching largely depends on the end user’s familiarity with the service. We recommend running a promotional campaign pre-launch.

Introducing service switching will affect the current business processes of operators. To make sure everything functions as planned, it is important that operators adjust their systems within two important domains:

1. BSS/CRM: administrative system processes and workflows must be adjusted in order to handle requests of customers who want to join or leave the operator,
2. Billing: as soon as a customer joins or leaves, billing should start or be suspended accordingly.

Thanks to the accessible API of the Operator Switching Hub, these adjustments can be easily configured to get your systems ready.

The Operator Switching Hub complies with all international best practices for service switching, including:

• Recipient-led process: the switching process is initiated and led by the recipient operator. After all, this is the party the customer wants to switch to. It prevents ‘win-back’ activities by the donor operator.
• Common identifier: the verification is being done through one common identifier, such as a customer number or account number. This makes the process more universal, user-friendly and secure, as opposed to operators asking for different verification methods (customer number versus address, for example).
• Personal data minimization: the Operator Switching Hub exchanges as little customer data as possible and minimizes the amount of personal data processed in order to ensure fast and easy switching.

Introducing better service switching liberalizes the telecom market and offers the following benefits:

• Driving competition: enabling number portability prevents the existence of monopolies in the telecom market. Numbers are easily switched to another operator, giving smaller operators a better shot at a market share.
• Improved business climate: as service switching liberates the telecom market, new parties are more likely to enter. This improves the business climate and drives competition.
• Better quality of service: with increased competition, operators have to improve and invent ways to attract and retain customers. They are more inclined to innovate, to lower their prices and to provide a higher level of service overall.
• Compliancy: many regulatory authorities, such as the EECC, demand that customers can easily switch providers.

Running the Operator Switching Hub in the cloud is just as safe as operating it locally. Depending on your local set-up, it may even be safer to run the platform in the cloud. Our application is secure by design, and we take technical and organizational measures for data security and availability. These measures include regular audits and assessments of our solutions, carried out by and independent company.

Also consider these general safety benefits of the cloud:

1. Increased availability: in the cloud, the platform data is stored in multiple data centers that are geo-redundant. If one server goes down, the other server instantly takes over. Achieving this on a local level is expensive.
2. Improved physical security: major cloud providers spare no expense to protect their data centers. They have state-of-the-art physical and digital security, as well as round-the-clock security monitoring.
3. 24/7 security monitoring: cloud providers also invest in a security operations center (SOC), monitoring the infrastructure 24/7. It is costly and challenging to achieve this on a local level.
4. No out-of-date hardware: to run a secure platform locally, hardware has to be replaced when its economical and physical lifecycle ends (usually every five years). This often includes renewing software licenses as well. When using the cloud, this is not an issue.

Everyone using the Operator Switching Hub receives tailored customer support. Documentation is centrally available, and your users are properly onboarded and trained. Because the platform is delivered as a managed service, we will keep it up-to-date and add new functionalities. Of course, the platform is also monitored continuously, to ensure you are notified of issues in a timely manner.