In six weeks, Prime Minister Bruce Golding will be taking a bill to Cabinet that would allow customers to keep their telephone numbers, even if they change telecoms provider - a feature called number portability.

Speaking at the post-cabinet press briefing yesterday at Jamaica House, minister with responsibility for information, telecommunications and special projects, Daryl Vaz, said number portability is a sign of government's commitment to the ordinary consumer. He said several amendments to the Telecommunications Act are being piloted by the prime minister.

"We are fully committed to the timeline that has been mentioned, and we are also fully committed to making sure that at the end of the day, when those regulations have been legislated, that the consumer will be the ultimate beneficiary and victor in terms of competition and, of course, rates," he said.

Minister Vaz said the action of the prime minister will allow the Telecommunications Policy passed by Parliament earlier this year to come into force and enable a raft of activities that promote development of the industry.

"The interconnection, which is a big issue, the rate determination, the pre-contract disputes, competitive safeguards, consumer protection, non-discrimination of supply and a number of others, which include the facilities sharing and co-location." .