A source affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) says that the changes required to existing networks and service systems in order to implement number portability, as well as the high costs of doing so, have made operators less than active in doing so.

A spokesperson for China Unicom (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) said that the ongoing telecom restructuring process was "in a sensitive phase," and that it would be difficult for the MIIT to introduce a policy at this time. The spokesperson said that number portability policies might be introduced next year, once the telecom restructuring process has been completed.

Source:China Communications