If you have ever been through the hell of changing your mobile phone provider but wanted to keep your phone number, you know the world of pain that entails. But now, plucky phone watchdog Ofcom has shown its teeth and now wants the whole process whittled down to two hours from the current five days. 

Apparently the regulator was appalled to hear that it took so long for the mobile operators to flip the switch on phone numbers that it has now gone on record to start sorting out the mess. It now argues that the process should only take around two hours (which is fairly generous given that it's a quick change on the database and that's about it.)

Ofcom said yesterday that the new rules on number portability, should make it quicker and easier for us poor mobile phone users to switch network operators and should be in place by 1st September 2009. The move follows Ofcom's earlier decision to reduce mobile number porting lead times from 5 days to 2 days from 1 April 2008.

The smallest operator 3 has complained that its larger rivals have used delaying tactics to stop their customers from switching over to the its 3G network. As everyone in the UK appears to have a mobile phone, the only way anyone gains market share is take it from someone else.

the company has pointed out that in other countries the process can take as little as 20 minutes.
Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed Richards said "Consumers deserve a quick and easy process for switching while retaining their number. These measures will promote competition in the UK mobile market and act directly in the consumers' interest. Our new rules set tough but achievable deadlines to put new systems in place and I look to the industry to implement them effectively".