Ntel, Others to Benefit from Mobile Number Portability

Following the simplification of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) by the Nigeria’s telecoms regulatory body- the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), results show that the plan will even aid new entrants into the market like Ntel, to attract subscribers.

MNP was launched by NCC on April 22, 2013, as a service that enables a subscriber to retain their mobile phone number when changing from one mobile service provider to another, and has been recording increase on the number of subscribers migrating from one network operator to another.

While launching the Service, NCC had hinted on the benefit which gives a subscriber opportunity to switch between services providers without having to go through the trouble of informing their friends, family and colleagues of a new contact number as the number stays the same.

Statistics by the Interconnect Clearinghouse ‎Nigeria Limited (ICN), last week shows that network subscribers are actually leveraging MNP to their advantage with an average of 601 daily Porting in the period, January and March 2016.

Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Oladele Ayanbadejo, managing director of ICN, acknowledged that 601 is the highest average number ‎daily ports they have recorded.

ICN commended the industry regulator for the introduction of number portability into the Nigerian telecommunications industry, adding that the benefits of the incentive are far reaching.

Other data ICN shared ‎show that in 2014 and 2015, during the same period, the average daily ports were 315 and 479 respectively, while the average daily ports in the year 2013 was 228.

Ayanbadejo‎ told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that ICN expects average daily completed ports for 2016 will definitely surpass any figures they have ever recorded.

“First of all, it placed Nigeria at par with the highly industrialized and advanced economies of the world where telecoms consumers have been able to port for decades”.

He said that MNP also mitigates monopoly of market share by any of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) as a subscriber is free to switch provider at will.

“The Mobile Number Portability scheme also minimizes anti-competitive practices by the MNOs and creates a level playing field. Mobile Number Portability is also of immense benefit to the Mobile Network Operator’s as a new entrant Network Operator will find it easier to acquire subscribers.