he Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC) is making significant progress in its quest to commence the much
anticipated Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme in the first quarter
of 2013.
The MNP scheme would enable Nigeria’s
over 100 million telephone users to retain their mobile phone numbers
should they choose to migrate from one mobile network operator to
another.
Sources close to the commission told
BusinessDay that testing of the system had actually begun in December,
but was slowed down by the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Our source said testing is to
re-commence next week, to smoothen out the rough edges in the scheme
and provide ample opportunity for consultants to address any hitches
that may arise in the process, before the launch.
BusinessDay gathered that from a
technical perspective, MNP providers have already begun integrating
with telecom providers’ Operation Support Systems (OSSs) and internal
business processes, such as customer care, billing and other management
systems.
Osondu Nwokoro, director, regulatory and
government affairs, Airtel Nigeria, told Business Day, “We are ready
for the commencement of the scheme in the first quarter of 2013. We only
hope that others will not frustrate the process. One of the benefits of
the scheme is that it would assist the NCC in regulating the industry
properly. Number portability will address quality of service issues and
high tariffs. Number portability will make it easier for the regulator
to manage anti-competition practices. A lot of such practices are
cropping up in the industry.
“It will drive competition in the
industry because if an operator fails to provide good quality of
service, a telecoms subscriber has the freedom to switch to another
network. It will definitely encourage all telecoms operators to provide
services at an optimal level. Industry watchers are optimistic that the
scheme would not only foster competition in the industry, but also throw
up fresh opportunities for value added service providers, as networks
with poor service quality will have difficulty retaining customers when
the scheme takes off.
Wale Goodluck, corporate services
executive, MTN Nigeria, told Business Day: “The scheme will drive value
along customer relations, innovative product offerings and value added
services. It can only be good for Nigeria’s telecoms industry. We are
aware that the scheme will go live in the first quarter of 2013. In view
of this, we are prepared and looking forward to the commencement of the
scheme. As I speak, all systems are ready to go. I think mobile number
portability will empower the subscriber”.
BusinessDay gathered that telecoms
operators will have to invest significant resources in network expansion
and upgrades, develop innovative value added services to keep their
subscribers from migrating to other mobile networks. In March 2012, a
consortium of three firms had won the bid to operate the scheme. The
firms that make up the consortium are Interconnect Clearing House
Nigeria (ICN) Telecordia of the USA and Saab Grintek of South Africa.
Bill Best, former chief technical
officer, GSMA in an interview said that “the scheme represents an
opportunity for Nigeria’s telecoms industry to progress and develop by
breaking down one of the biggest impediments to customer choice - number
lock-in”. Best said the scheme has been proven to increase market
activity and revenues, as it gives an overall boost to all service
providers in the marketplace.
Tony Ojobo, director, public affairs,
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has at several fora reiterated
the commission’s commitment to commence the implementation of number
portability across all networks before the end of the first quarter of
the year.
He was quoted in a news report
yesterday, as saying the scheme would foster healthy competition in the
industry, as operators would not want to lose their customers to other
networks. Number portability gives subscribers the option of migrating
from one network to another at will, while in search of better service
quality.
“Apart from competition, which will
bring healthy rivalry among operators, they will also be forced to
introduce value-added services that will attract customers to their
networks, and also retain existing subscribers.
“ Explaining the rationale behind the
number portability regime, Ojobo said recently, “We needed to change the
tactics. We needed something new and creative, we needed something
tasking, which will make the operators stand on their toes and address
the challenges of quality of service faced by consumers in their various
networks.
“The NCC needed to empower the consumers while they make the choice as to what network they wish to stay on.”
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