The European Commission has launched an infringement procedure against Bulgaria for failing to introduce number portability for fixed-line phones, when phone users change their operator but want to keep their phone number.

When it joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgaria was allowed to postpone the introduction of number portability until 1 January 2009.

As required by the EU telecoms rules, phone users of all other Member States, and, since April 2008, mobile phone users in Bulgaria, can have their numbers ported to other operators.

"Number portability is a very important competition tool since it enables customers to change operators without losing their phone numbers," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

"Unfortunately, Bulgarian customers are not able to retain their fixed number when they change operator since this service is not yet available. I urge the Bulgarian authorities to act as fast as possible so that Bulgarian consumers can add to the 24 million fixed lines that have been ported since the rule came into force in 2003."

The Commission expressed concerns that with fixed number portability unavailable to fixed phone subscribers, Bulgaria is failing to fulfil its obligations resulting from the EU telecoms rules.

If Bulgaria fails to provide an adequate response within two months, the Commission may, if appropriate, go to the next stage of the infringement procedure and issue a reasoned opinion. As a subsequent step the Commission may refer this case to the European Court of Justice.