Number portability has been implemented for nearly three years. Who is the winner of the three major operators?

2021.09.17

Starting from November 10, 2019, the "number porting to network" operation officially started. The so-called number portability is to keep the original number and transfer packages and services to another operator. This removes the original practice of binding the number to the operator for life, and makes the user's choice more flexible. For example, the original users of China Mobile can continue to use their own numbers, but change to China Telecom's service package.


Since my country's three major operators basically account for most of the market share, number portability is a "war" between China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. Under the circumstance of not pulling new ones, the total number of users is basically fixed. If operator A is abandoned, it must be transferred to B.

 

So who is the biggest winner in this three-year battle of number portability?

 

Many people have answered this question with real-world transfer operations. The number portability data for 2021 has not yet been released. Previously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a set of data: more than 17 million users have performed number portability transition. However, it may be to avoid increasing the pressure of public opinion. The three major operators have not announced the specific data of the network transfer in a particularly tacit understanding.

However, as of February 2021, China Telecom's subscriber growth was 1.78 million, while China Mobile had a negative growth of 4.749 million and China Unicom had a negative growth of 565,000. Some clues can be seen from the user growth. China Telecom's development speed is still good, and it is the only one of the three operators that has a positive growth.



At the same time, you can refer to the number portability data for 2020. In May, China Telecom had a net transfer of 55,999 households, China Mobile had a net transfer of 38,797, and China Unicom had a net transfer of 17,202. This data is surprisingly consistent with the user growth trend in 2021. Therefore, we have reason to speculate: China Telecom has been the biggest winner in the three years of number portability. At the same time, China Mobile is clearly at a disadvantage in the "War of the Three Kingdoms".

 

Then we can conclude: China Telecom will win? China Mobile will lose?

 

In fact, it may not be true. China Mobile has the largest user base. Whether it is mountainous or high-speed, the quality of telephone communication is significantly better, and it has obvious advantages in terms of tariffs and discounts. On the Internet, there are many cases where mobile users regret switching to telecommunications. In addition, China Mobile’s procedures and high barriers for switching to the Internet have discouraged many people.



Someone complained that China Mobile actually charged a "breakup fee" for number portability.)

 

Although China Mobile has a high probability of being complained, among the three, China Unicom is still the most "disgusting". In particular, China Unicom's poor signal problem has almost become a national consensus.

 


(China Unicom is accused of being the bottom of the three major operators in many respects)


With the arrival of the 5G era, the three operators will usher in another fierce battle. It can be predicted that whoever wins the 5G hill will get more new and old customers. The battle of number portability is not over yet. Which one do you think is best to use, China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom?