Mobile Number Portability
Frequently Asked Questions
1.1.1 What is “Mobile Number Portability” or “MNP”?
Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is a service that enables you to keep your mobile phone number when changing from one mobile service provider to another. So, if you switch between service providers, you do not have to go to through the trouble of informing all your friends, family, colleagues and other contacts because your number stays the same.

1.1.2 Who can use the system?
MNP is available to both “Pre-Paid” (Pay As You Go) and “Post-Paid” mobile customers in Nigeria.

1.1.3 Who can provide this service?
MNP will initially be available among the GSM mobile operators: MTN, GLOBACOM, ETISALAT, and AIRTEL.

1.1.4 When will porting become available on the CDMA and Fixed line Networks?
NCC has adopted a phased approach to the launch of MNP service in Nigeria. The process to port to CDMA networks will begin as soon as the GSM porting process is completed and launched.

1.1.5 What type of phone number can be ported?
Any mobile number on the GSM network can be ported irrespective of the type of service it is been used for (e.g. voice, data, gps tracking etc).

1.1.6 Where do I have to go to port my number?
Customers should go to the 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. (Porting can only be undertaken by visiting the customer care office, retail shop or authorised dealer of your chosen new service provider and is not available by telephone, online or other electronic means). Please do not terminate your service with your existing service provider before initiating porting with the new service provider.

1.1.7 What time of day will the porting service be available by the operator?
The porting service will be available when your new service operator’s store/ outlet/ sales point is open to customers. Nigeria Mobile Number Portability Frequently Asked Questions 2

1.1.8 What do I have to do to port?
You will be required to complete a Port Request Form. You will also be asked to send a text message with the word “PORT” to a short code “3232”. Assistance will be made available if required.

1.1.9 How do I confirm that it is my number?
To move your number to a new mobile operator, you need to bring the following into the new operator’s stores.
Proof of identity – Either an identity card, passport or driving licence or an officially validated photographic identity document;
The working mobile number you wish to port.

1.1.10 What if I do not have an ID card?
If you are unable to present any ID card, a webcam will be used to take your photograph.

1.1.11 How much will it cost me to port my number?
There are no charges for you to port your number.

1.1.12 Can I change my mind during the porting process?
You can change your mind anytime before you send the confirmation SMS. Once the confirmation SMS has been sent, you can no longer cancel your port request and the porting process must progress to completion.

1.1.13 How will I be advised of the status/ progress of my porting request?
You will be informed of the progress of your porting request by text messages

1.1.14 What happens if my porting request is rejected or fails to complete?
You should contact your new service provider to resolve the problem

1.1.15 I'm a pre-paid customer and I have some credit left - can I take this with me?
“Pre-paid” customers won’t be able to take outstanding credit with them, and should use it up before they switch service providers. Nigeria Mobile Number Portability Frequently Asked Questions 3

1.1.16 What happens to SMS that I send or receive whilst porting?
Messages which have been sent to the customer prior to porting, but not delivered, may be lost

1.1.17 Will I be able to take my voicemails, SMS and service settings to my new operator?
You will lose your old voicemail, SMS, MMS and ancillary services, and will need to set these up again with your new service provider. .

1.1.18 Will the cost of my calls to my friends and family change after I have ported?
After porting, you may be charged differently when calling friends and family that are not on the same network as you. Also, your friends and family may be charged differently (if they remain on the old network or if the tariff arrangement with the new operator is different from that of the donor) when calling the customer after porting.

1.1.19 When can I port to another operator?
You can port at any time. However, you will be restricted from porting your number to a third operator or back to your original operator within 90 days of a previous port.

1.1.20 Do I have a limit to the number of porting that I can do with one number in a particular year?
No. You can port your number as many times as you like in a given year. However, there is a 90 days restriction before your next port.

1.1.21 If I port to a new network, and get a new SIM Card, after 90 days, will I follow same procedure to return to my previous provider?
Yes. Any time you wish to port your number, you will have to go to the customer care office, retail shop or authorised dealer of your chosen new service provider to request to port your number. You will also need to be issued a new SIM Card.

1.1.22 Will I use my previous SIM Card or will I be required to get another SIM Card from my previous operator thereby rendering my earlier SIM from this operator useless this time?
You will need to be issued a new SIM card every time you wish to port your number to a new service provider as your previous SIM card will not work with your new service provider.

1.1.23 Would I be required to pay for the New SIM Card?
You will be issued a new SIM card by your new service provider, which may be free or charged, depending on the service provider. Nigeria Mobile Number Portability Frequently Asked Questions 4

1.1.24 Can I approach the new operator and decide to register my SIM Card with them for the purpose of porting?
Your SIM Card must be registered with your current operator before visiting your new service provider.

1.1.25 Can my current operator try to persuade me to stay whilst I am porting?
No. Your current operator is not allowed to contact you during the porting process to try and persuade you to stay with them. Any such contact by your current operator must be reported to your new service provider or the NCC.

1.1.26 If my previous operator calls or disturbs me as a way of inviting me back to its network within a period of 90 days of porting, to whom should I report?
You can report this to your new service provider or to the NCC.

1.1.27 How long does porting take?
Your port will be completed within 48 hours.

1.1.28 I'm a post-paid customer - can I port if my initial contract has not expired or I haven't paid my bills?
Yes. “Post-paid” customers will be able to port their numbers. However, once the porting process is complete, post-paid customers are required to settle their outstanding bills to their previous service provider including any early termination fees. The old service provider is permitted to use any legal measures to recover any outstanding charges from you.

1.1.29 Will my old operator stop billing me when I port?
“Post-paid” customers will receive a final bill for usage up to the time their number is ported to the new operator.

Hmmm.......nice article, but where did you lift this from??

However, this caught my attention.

1.1.27 How long does porting take?
Your port will be completed within 48 hours.

Since when did Nigeria become so efficient that would make the porting process of 48hours even remotely possible.

puskin: Hmmm.......nice article, but where did you lift this from??

However, this caught my attention.



Since when did Nigeria become so efficient that would make the porting process of 48hours even remotely possible.

. It was sent to me by a friend who works with one of the Telecommunication firms. I posted it here because of those who think they can move from one network provider to another at will. Let them know all the implications/details of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

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@OP Nice Enlightenment

^^ Thank you.

Like your telco to bits or can't wait to change lines? Take this survey on number portability #Nigeria #naija #trends http:///jBoKZ
So far about 68% of movement appears to be towards Etisalat, MTN currently at the bottom though...
Chart updated in realtime based on user interaction