📋 Tender Overview
In order to avoid the risks of identity theft in portability requests – made by third parties to commit financial fraud – the Ombudsman's Office suggested to the Supervisory Agency for Private Investment in Telecommunications – Osiptel, to specify the Regulations on Number Portability in the Public Mobile Service and in the Fixed Telephony Service and the steps to be followed by the staff of telephone companies during identity validation of the subscriber.
For example, the use of the biometric fingerprint verification system and the use of the unique password, granted by the company to the subscriber of the service, in order to avoid impersonations used by third parties to commit financial digital fraud, said the deputy for Public Services of the Ombudsman's Office, Lissette Vásquez.
The recommendation is made within the framework of the set of contributions to the draft Regulation on Number Portability in the Public Mobile Service and in the Fixed Telephony Service, approved by OSIPTEL, which incorporates changes to the conditions for users to exercise the right to number portability (change from one operating company to another while maintaining the same number). specifically on the process of evaluating and implementing portability, and the information that telephone companies must provide to users.
In the report of comments on the draft Regulation (https://www.defensoria.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/INFORME-JUR%C3%8DDICO-DEFENSORIAL-N%C2%B0-012-2023-DPAMASPPI.pdf, it is also suggested that, prior to the change of operator, telephone companies verify the delivery of the physical SIM Card (chip) to the applicant, comply with sending the new contract for the provision of the service and inform the subscriber through their telephone number to port, the date and time scheduled for the service. portability. Likewise, in the case of those telephone lines with portability and outstanding debts, it is proposed to inform the subscriber of the amount owed and warn that the service will be suspended if the respective debt is not paid.
The Ombudsman's Office stressed that guaranteeing the security of the number portability process is of special relevance, as it is a mechanism that promotes competition among telephone companies and allows users to choose the company that offers the most convenient services and plans for their needs. In this regard, we welcome the regulatory initiative of Osiptel and reiterate the importance of incorporating the necessary changes into the project to protect the rights and identity of users.
