KUWAIT: Officials said Minister of Communications, Dr. Mohammad Al-Baseeri, issued a ministerial decree at the beginning of August pertaining to the formation of a special committee to be headed by Undersecretary Abdulmohsen Al-Mazeidi.

The committee will follow up on the execution of a previous decree that was issued by former Minister Nabil Salamah. That decree was not put into practice because of the reshuffling of the Cabinet, Annahar reported.

According to the decision, telecommunications subscribers will be allowed to transfer their phone numbers between the three mobile service providers in Kuwait, which includes Zain, Wataniya and VIVA.

The sources added that the committee was authorized to issue regulations that organize the transfer within six months, adding that they are to do so without causing confusion for subscribers or the three companies. The sources also described this step as a daring one that will help identify the company that provides the best services.

Subscribers will have the privilege of keeping their own mobile numbers when switching from one company to another without having to change their lines. "The only change is that bills and other transactions will have to be coordinated with the company they switch to," the sources said.

Commenting on the decision, a senior VIVA official said that his company was keen to offer the option of "number portability" which allows subscribers to keep their lines when changing service providers.