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An Examination of Numerical Portability in Mobile Communication in Uruguay

Author

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  • Gandelman, Néstor
  • Roldán, Flavia
  • Viera, Sofía

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) using data from Uruguay. MNP allows customers to switch mobile providers while retaining their phone number, thereby reducing switching costs and potentially enhancing competition. Our analysis reveals that firms responded by increasing the share of postpaid contracts, partially countering the exogenous reduction in switching costs with new endogenous barriers. We find that while market concentration increased in terms of subscriber share, it decreased for data traffic, reflecting differing customer behaviors and firms' commercial strategies. Additionally, we observed reductions in mobile data prices and an increase in new mobile subscribers, suggesting that MNP contributed to overall market growth. Using a world panel of data prices for the internet we find that MNP is associated with lower prices in the range of 42-50 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Gandelman, Néstor & Roldán, Flavia & Viera, Sofía, 2025. "An Examination of Numerical Portability in Mobile Communication in Uruguay," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 13957, Inter-American Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:idb:brikps:13957
    DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0013380
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mobile number portability; telecommunications; Competition; Switching costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L96 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Telecommunications
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

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