ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — Antigua and Barbuda is moving closer to a major telecommunications upgrade that could give consumers greater freedom to switch mobile providers while keeping their existing telephone numbers.

The government says Mobile Number Portability is currently undergoing technical testing, including porting and routing tests between telecommunications operators. The project has been under development since 2022 and requires the operators’ systems to work through a central clearinghouse.

Cabinet was advised that November 23, 2026 is considered an achievable target for the nationwide launch. Further testing will continue through October, including checks involving retail systems and international services.

The technology is expected to increase consumer choice and competition in Antigua and Barbuda’s telecommunications market. Officials are also examining how the change will affect SMS-based two-factor authentication used by online platforms and digital services.

The planned rollout represents another step in Antigua and Barbuda’s wider digital transformation, as the country works to modernise telecommunications services and give consumers greater flexibility.