One week past mobile number portability being made available, 4,181 cellphone users have changed from one mobile operator to another while retaining their existing 11-digit number.

However, another 5,862 attempted to do so but were barred by the operators they were leaving, in most of the cases for dues

not being cleared.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) revealed the figures at its office in the capital yesterday.

The figures are "not bad" considering it is the first week, said Md Jahirul Haque, acting chairman of the telecom regulator, adding, "We are very much optimistic about the service and hope that customers will find their best match using this tool."

There are some challenges, including issues raised by a few operators which are yet to found to be true, but the process will become smoother in the coming days, he said.

Market leader Grameephone lost the highest number of customers and gained the lowest 1,834 and 682 respectively.

Of those who tried but failed to shift, 2,782 were from Grameenphone, 1,519

Banglalink, 982 Robi and 579 Teletalk.

Robi in a statement yesterday urged the regulator to make the switching process "smoother”.

They said though the service was yet to get the expected big response, the regulator needed to launch campaigns to make people aware of it.

In another statement, Grameenphone said they respected customer's freedom of

choice and were equally happy to welcome new customers.

However, as compliant company Grameenphone is committed to following regulations of the service prescribed by the BTRC and only eligible numbers under that process were shifted, the statement added.

The much-awaited service was introduced on October 1, making Bangladesh the 72nd country to do so.

Customers are being charged Tk 50 alongside a 15 percent value-added tax for a shift within 72 hours. To do so within 24 hours, another Tk 100 has to be paid. Both require a visit to the new operator's customercarecentre.

Customers will have to wait at least 90 days to make another switch. Infozillion BD Teletech, a joint venture between a Bangladeshi firm and a Slovenian firm, is providing the service.