Ben Uzor Jr
The 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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