Mobile number portability implementation progresses in Nicaragua and Guatemala

Central American nations are navigating different stages of implementing mobile number portability, a service allowing users to switch telecommunications providers without changing their phone numbers.

In Nicaragua, the regulator TELCOR has announced a roadmap to implement the service, which is expected to be available by the end of 2027. The process will be free for users and involves a four-phase plan: organization, design and integration, testing, and production. To initiate the transfer, users will request a verification code via SMS and present identification to their new provider. The service aims to increase competition and consumer choice.

In contrast, Guatemala is facing delays in its implementation. The regulation for mobile number portability is currently 250 days overdue. Although Decree 14-2025 established that the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SIT) should issue regulations within two months of its November 2025 publication, the process remains stalled within various executive branches. The delay prevents users from switching operators without incurring the costs typically associated with changing numbers.