Mobile Number Portability finally takes off today

From today, the over 100 million
mobile phone users in the country
can now change from one network to another and still retain their
numbers.

This is courtesy of the Mobile Number
Portability (MNP) regime which takes
off today.
The regime would be flagged off with
a massive publicity event by the
Nigeria Communications Commissions
(NCC).
However, there are concerns about
how mobile phone users can
effectively access and enjoy the
benefits of the system after the
launch.
Perhaps in anticipation of this, NCC
has outlined what subscribers should
do to effectively utilise the benefits of
the system.
Mobile Number Portability makes it
possible for a subscriber to migrate
from one network – may be due to
poor services – to another which he/
she feels can offer better services,
without losing his/her original phone
number.
Already, NCC and telecoms operators
as well as MNP service providers,
have confirmed their readiness for
the scheme while there has been
excitement stemming from what MNP
is able and about to do.
Expectedly, the service will give the
telecoms consumers the freedom of
choice, redefine competition and
allow subscribers the opportunity to
use only one phone and operate on
the platform of their choice.
The service will also impose cutting-
edge responsibility on the operators
who will now ensure their quality of
service is good enough to retain the
confidence of their subscribers.
However, the regulator has hinted the
subscribers that the programme is
just beginning and will not provide the
‘magic wand’ to address all the
problems of the industry immediately.
NCC, at the weekend, said that
technical hitches may be expected
within the first few days of the service
launch, but implored subscribers to
show understanding. It also advised
Nigerians to access its website for
detailed information on MNP.
The porting rules
However, the Executive Vice Chairman
of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, noted that
subscribers were expected to abide by
certain rules to give the system a
smooth take off. “The following are
very important: As a subscriber, you
can port (change) to another
operator. However, you will be
restricted from porting (changing)
your number to a third operator
within 90 days of a previous port; you
can port your number as many times
as you like in a given year. This means
there is a 90-day restriction before
your next port”, he said.
Expectations from subscribers
Just like it used to happen in SIM
swap at the early days of GSM in the
country, subscribers may port the
numbers of other people for no
genuine reasons and to forestall this,
Juwah said subscribers would be
required to submit certain
documents. “To move your number to
a new mobile operator, you need to
bring proof of identity such as identity
card, passport or driving licence or an
officially-validated photographic
identity document. Also, the mobile
number you wish to port must be
validly registered.”
He also gave hints that subscribers
can port their numbers at any
customer care office, retail shop or
outlet of their chosen new service
provider and meet with the
authorized sales person to request to
port their number.
He also informed the subscribers that
porting is not available by telephone,
online or other electronic means.
Meanwhile, subscribers wishing to
change their operators to a preferred
network are expected to terminate
service with their existing service
provider before initiating porting with
the new service provider.
In Nigeria’s model of porting, Juwah
said that both post-paid and pre-paid
customers will be able to port their
numbers but however, added that
once the porting process is complete,
postpaid customers are required to
settle their outstanding bills to their
previous service provider including
any early termination fees.
He also warned that old service
providers are permitted to use any
legal measures to recover any
outstanding charges from a
subscriber.
Operators ready
Meanwhile, in compliance with the
directive by NCC that all mobile
operators be ready for the
commencement of the exercise today,
almost all the mobile operators in the
country have expressed readiness to
fall in line with the MNP from take
off.
Globacom
The Second National Operator, Glo,
says it was fully set to activate the
MNP in its system. Glo said it was
fully ready to begin the
implementation of mobile number.
The operator said it was set in terms
of system readiness, process
readiness and operational readiness
for the smooth takeoff of mobile
number portability.
Group Operating Officer of the
company, Mr Mohammed Jameel, said
that “in terms of system readiness,
Glo has completed the procurement
and implementation of the network
signal routing system (STP) and the
porting process or gateway
management system which is the first
to be commissioned in the country
and now completely ready for MNP
service. The upgrade and
customization of the network systems,
the IT systems, the billing systems
that will handle mediation and fraud
management and the value added
systems (VAS) have also been
completed”.
Jameel added that the company‘s
technical and operational teams had
worked assiduously to ensure that the
network is in a perfect state of
preparedness to enable a smooth
transition for those who are
interested in porting on the Glo
network.
“We put in place a functional number
portability gateway (NPG) and the
first to ensure an all-call query signal
transport point (STP) system which
are major technical requirements for
the successful take-off of mobile
number portability on any network”,
he said.
Jameel explained that in the area of
process readiness, Glo’s internal
processes have also been reviewed
and aligned with the process and
business rule guidelines released by
the NCC. He added that Glo’s
operational readiness currently stands
at 100 per cent as awareness training
for staff, operational/user training and
system administration training have
already been completed.
Jameel also disclosed that a series of
tests on the massive network upgrade
done by the company has been
conducted by Huawei and ALU and an
enterprise wide dry run to fine-tune
the smooth running of the entire
system. This is even as he disclosed
that a dedicated MNP team has been
trained and assigned to the day-to-
day running of the MNP operation
right from the Nigerian streets to the
engine rooms in all of the network’s
data centres.
MTN too
Also, MTN Nigeria at the weekend
also expressed its readiness to flow
with the NCC as the MNP takes off
today.
MTN’s Corporate Services Executive,
Akinwale Goodluck, said the company
has put systems in place to make
MNP a reality for mobile phone users
in Nigeria who are eager to join the
country’s most expansive network.
“We have made all the necessary
investment in infrastructure and
manpower to make MNP a reality. We
are confident that at the
commencement date, we will be
absolutely ready. “ Goodluck added
Etisalat expresses optimism
Etisalat said it has been known as
having long canvassed for the system
arguing that it would benefit it more
than ever before. The operator had
long informed that whether scheduled
or impromptu, it was ready to adapt
and adopt the MNP system because it
had already made investments ready
for the implementation. It has
repeatedly claimed not to have any
fear for Mobile Number Portability.

source: vanguard

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