WILLEMSTAD – Starting January 1, 2026, telecom customers in Curaçao will be able to keep their phone number when switching providers. The measure was announced by the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC), which recently replaced the Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post (BT&P). 

RAC director Curt Belfor indicated that number portability will be introduced free of charge for consumers. 

The decision follows changes to the National Decree on Designated Telecommunications Services, which took effect in April this year. Previously, the rules only applied to telephony, telex, and telegraph services, but internet has now been included. According to Belfor, this legal update paved the way for implementing number portability. 

He emphasized that all stakeholders are working toward the January 1, 2026 deadline. Customers will not face extra charges, though conditions will apply. For instance, users with unpaid bills at their current provider cannot simply switch to another while keeping their number. 

BT&P had already begun preparations for number portability back in 2016. At the time, the mobile market was saturated and competition among providers was limited. Regulators believe that allowing customers to retain their numbers will increase competition, create a more dynamic market, and lead to better service.