Sim Card Registration Delays NP

Implementation of number portability that will allow subscribers to change their service providers without changing their telephone numbers would have to wait until the process of Sim card registration is perfected, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
The earliest Nigerians are expected to change their service providers which are not providing quality services without changing their numbers is first quarter of next year.
Dr. Bashir Gwandu, acting, executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) said that Sim registration is priority for now.
According him, operators need to capture details of subscribers that want to port (change operators) to avoid somebody else porting another person’s number.
He told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that it is not the best interest of the industry to implement number portability while the process of Sim card registration has not been concluded.
Number portability is of immense benefit to subscribers as they can more easily change service providers without having to notify all their friends and contacts of a number change.
It was gathered that with review of the ongoing sim card registration process that now include capturing of both biometric and photograph of subscriber, the six month time frame for the process is no longer realistic thereby pushing implementation of number portability forward to next year.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek recalled that the NCC has set up machinery to ensure the implementation of number portability.
Number portability upon full implementation will serve to: remove barriers to the free choice of service provider by a subscriber, ensure further increase in the level of open competition among network operators, and act as an incentive for service providers to improve Quality of Service and Consumer Satisfaction.
NCC has retained the services of KPMG Consultancy Services as consultants for the development of Regulatory and Technical Framework for implementation of NP in Nigeria.