The GSMA has launched PathFinder number portability discovery service to be operated by Neustar Inc. The service provides global database of number portability encompassing 2.2 billion telephone numbers impacted by number portability worldwide.

GSMA says that the service will also aggregate numbering plan data from virtually every country in the world, including those with high number portability penetration.

“The GSMA’s PathFinder Number Portability Discovery service provides critical numbering plan and number portability information that dynamically enables service providers to identify the true destination network for accurate routing,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at the GSMA. “The service will help eliminate incremental fees, reduce costs, optimise rates in commercial agreements, improve traffic delivery and pave the way for new feature-rich IP-based services. With their leading credentials in Number Portability, we are pleased to extend our relationship with Neustar, who will operate the service.”

The service is launched with an aim to an interoperable, industry-wide solution that enables the routing of global IP service interconnect traffic.

“We are delighted to be managing the Number Portability Discovery service and to continue to work with the GSMA to evolve the PathFinder platform. Numbering plans and number portability data are a constantly moving target for both telecommunications providers and other industry verticals that are looking to deliver new mobile IP services to their customers,” said Steve Edwards, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Neustar’s Converged Addressing Services business unit. “This new service will greatly alleviate a growing complexity for the industry by providing a single standardised data interface and business arrangement for accessing data regardless of traffic corridors.”

It will assist service providers to improve their voice, SMS and MMS commercial/technical performance under a number portability ecosystem.

Pulse Networks, Veraz Networks and TransNexus have been certified as PathFinder Partners to enable access to IP-based ENUM services from both next generation networks and C7 legacy networks.