WILLEMSTAD – The introduction of number portability in Curaçao is now so close that telecom provider Flow is facing mounting pressure, with the risk of a significant loss of customers in the coming weeks. The long-awaited measure, which allows consumers to keep their phone number when switching to another provider, is expected to become operational shortly.
Although the legal framework for number portability was established in March 2025 through the modernization of the National Decree on Designated Telecommunication Services, its full impact is only now becoming clear. Once the system goes live, customers will be able to change providers without the inconvenience of losing their existing phone numbers, a barrier that has long discouraged switching.
Flow, which has dominated the market since its acquisition of UTS, is widely expected to be hit hardest by the change. The company has faced persistent complaints from customers about poor service quality, slow handling of issues and what critics describe as a semi-monopolistic attitude. With number portability removing one of the main obstacles to leaving, industry observers anticipate that thousands of dissatisfied customers could switch to competing providers almost immediately.
Regulatory Authority Curaçao (RAC), the sector’s regulator, has confirmed that the technical implementation of number portability is in its final phase. Once activated, all telecom providers will be legally required to facilitate customer transfers smoothly and without delay.
For the first time, Flow will no longer benefit from a structural lock-in that effectively tied customers to its network. As a result, the company’s market position now faces a serious challenge, with competition expected to intensify sharply once number portability becomes a reality.
The coming weeks are likely to mark a turning point for Curaçao’s telecom market, as consumers gain greater freedom of choice and providers are forced to compete more directly on price, service quality and reliability.