Mobile phone users can use old numbers on any network soon

The Nigerian telecom space is experiencing an explosion of events which promises to improve quality of service, lower tariffs, threaten the existence of some operators and give a new lease of life to others. The latest in this string of events is the number portability scheme which is again coming to the front burner of the regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Number portability allows subscribers of any network to migrate to any other network while still retaining their original phone number. At the moment, telephone subscribers who are dissatisfied with the quality of service of their service providers are hesitant to migrate to other networks because migrating would mean a change of telephone number, which translates into disconnection from contacts who cannot trace their new number. The NCC started making moves to implement the number portability scheme over a year ago but met with resistance from some of the bigger (mobile) operators, perceived by their competitors as having had a first mover or five year exclusivity advantage which enabled them to take a large chunk of the market, leaving the crumbs for other comers. Arguing against the implementation of the number portability scheme, some of the said bigger networks had asked the NCC for time to enable them resolve issues relating to interconnectivity, infrastructure and billing methods among others. The NCC, months ago, called for submission of proposals on the regulatory, legal and technical framework for the implementation of number portability in Nigeria . Informed sources say number portability is back on the front burner of the NCC again, for a number of reasons including a new technical capacity enablement conferred on network operators in Nigeria on account of the roll-out of two high capacity trans-Atlantic submarine cable ventures – the Main One Cable System and the Glo-One initiative. A senior official close to the NCC told BusinessDay at the weekend :”The NCC is trying to implement it [number portability] because it is necessary for communication.”

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