Since its implementation in 2011, number portability in Panama has reached five million portabilities, according to the National Authority for Public Services. At an event titled "Evolution of Number Portability," ASEP general manager Zelmar Rodríguez Crespo highlighted that this growth reflects a regulation adapted to technological advances, starting with only 5,205 ported numbers in its first year.
The increase was notable during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 25% increase in 2020 and 120% the following year, reaching 691,757 lines in 2021. For 2023, a growth of 10.6% was reported, while an increase of 21.3% is anticipated for 2024, partly due to the closure of the Digicel operator. It is expected that 2025 will close with some 577,000 portabilities.
Number portability has boosted competitiveness in the telecommunications market, allowing users to change providers without losing their number and forcing operators to improve their services and rates. However, figures show a 4% drop in fixed lines between 2020 and 2021, and a 20% drop between 2021 and 2024, highlighting the preference for mobile telephony.