§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage mobile telephone network operators to provide short messaging services across networks. [73808]
§ Mr. Wills[holding answer 1 March 1999]: The introduction, by licence modification, of mobile number portability has provided an additional spur to the introduction of Short Messaging Services (SMS) interworking between domestic operators. I understand that arrangements are expected to be concluded shortly between all four network operators and that it is now only a case of working on the implementation, specifically technical protocols. The Government are confident that additional benefits, in terms of new inter-network services, will be conferred on consumers through the introduction of mobile number portability.
With regard to international SMS interworking, it is dependent on the capability of the roamed network. UK subscribers already have access to short messaging services when in many overseas countries and discussions are ongoing within the GSM community to ensure that network interworking is secured more widely, particularly in Europe and Asia.