UPDATE 1-S'pore to start mobile number portability in June

(Updates with details)

SINGAPORE, April 16 (Reuters) - Mobile phones users in Singapore will be able to switch service providers without changing their numbers from June 13, the Singapore government said on Wednesday.

The mobile number portability service will mean subscribers can more easily switch between Singapore's three mobile phone service providers: Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI), StarHub (STAR.SI) and MobileOne (MONE.SI).

There are about 130,000 mobile phone users who have ported their numbers under a current call-forwarding solution, but this meant consumers have to use their old and new mobile numbers concurrently.

These consumers will have until 14 May to decide which number they want to retain.

"Consumers can truly look forward to having one number for life," said Leong Keng Thai, deputy chief executive of the Infocomm Development Authority, at a press conference.

Mobile number portability traditionally works against incumbent players such as SingTel, which has a 41 percent market share.

Starhub said it has 31 percent share, while MobileOne has a 27 percent slice. (Reporting by Yvonne Cheong, editing by Neil Chatterjee)