Waiting for Mobile Number Portability

After several postponements, Nigeria is now at the dawn of mobile number portability (MNP) service that will afford a telecom consumer the ability to choose or fire their GSM service provider and still retain his or her number.

Touted as the next big thing, the International and European standard is for a customer wishing to port his/her number to contact the new network (Recipient).

The new network provider then sends the number portability request (NPR) to the current network (Donor). This is known as "Recipient-Led" porting.

Proponents of mobile number portability said it will drive competition in the industry.

For instance, 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.

Networks with poor service quality will have difficulty retaining customers when the scheme takes off.

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.

It 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.

It would empower the consumers by giving the freedom to make the choice as to what network they wish to stay on.

But mobile number portability has its own flip side because by availing the services of MNP and changing the service provider, the user might have to let go some of the benefits that the old company offered.

Moreover, users will have to undergo several technical formalities, which could be a little annoying sometimes.

There are a few formalities that users will need to perform, in order to change their service providers.

Initially, telecom consumers would need to pay a conversion fee from one service provider to other.

But overall, MNP service will empower consumers with freedom to choose any service provider without having to lose their existing numbers.

This facility is expected to trigger a cutthroat competition in the market, which compels all the service providers to attract customers by fulfilling their demands.