IT NEWS NIGERIA
NCC said MTN Nigeria, Globacom and Etisalat violated the MNP process time obligations in the third quarter of 2015
- Only 150,000 switch network in 2yrs but NCC denies Mobile Portability failed
- Timer deactivation violation was noticed from MTN, regarding a Corporate Port request of over 109 lines belonging to Nigerian Breweries Plc
- MTN breached the timer of two hours for validation of four port requests from the NPC as stated in the MNP Business Rules
- Glo breached the two hours allowable for validation of six port requests from the NPC, as stated in the MNP Business Rules
- Glo also breached the one allowable hour for the Donor to deactivate 147 Ported out lines belonging to Reckitt Ltd consistent with provisions of the MNP Business Rules
- There was a timer deactivation violation by Etisalat, regarding a Corporate Port request of over 63 lines belonging to Neoconde Energy Limited
Lagos. November 25: Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said telecoms operators are truncating porting process against business rule guiding Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Nigeria’s telecoms industry.
As at May this year, insignificant 150,000 mobile users change from one service provider to another since MNP launch on April 22, 2013. The regulator denied that MNP Project was a failure.
The regulator said in its `2015 3Q Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Report’ that MTN Nigeria, Globacom and Etisalat violated the MNP process time obligations in the third quarter of 2015.
NCC noted that consequent upon the above, series of compliance checks were carried out regarding timer violations by donor operators with respect to `validation and deactivation responses’, which have timelines of two hours and an hour respectively.
It said that during the compliance check in the quarter, it was observed that there was a timer deactivation violation by Etisalat, regarding a Corporate Port request of over 63 lines belonging to Neoconde Energy Limited.
NCC said that the company had initiated a corporate port out request from Etisalat to Airtel on Aug. 7, 2015 at 9.13a.m., but was partially completed as at 1.52p.m. on the same day.
“As a result, these 63 subscribers were unable to receive calls from Etisalat’s network,’’ it noted.
The commission also said that a timer deactivation violation was noticed from MTN, regarding a Corporate Port request of over 109 lines belonging to Nigerian Breweries Plc.
According to NCC, the company initiated a corporate port out request from MTN to Glo via lead MSISDN: 07036735494 on Aug. 11, 2015 at 1.20p.m., but was partially completed as at 11.22a.m. on Aug. 14, 2015.
“As a result, these subscribers were not able to receive calls from MTN subscribers.
“In the same vein, a timer validation violation by MTN regarding four individual Port requests from MSISDNs: 08139382308, 08143810152, 08135485305 and 08162108093.
“MTN breached the timer of two hours for validation of four port requests from the NPC as stated in the MNP Business Rules,’’ it added.
It said that a timer validation violation was observed from Globacom, regarding 11 individuals and one corporate Port request.
NCC said that Glo had breached the two hours allowable for validation of six port requests from the NPC, as stated in the MNP Business Rules.
NCC said it had developed `Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement’ strategies to prosecute the above mandate and achieve its objective of fair competition, ethical market conduct and optimal quality of service in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.
It said that Globacom validated one of these port requests over nine hours after receipt from the MNP administrator.
“Glo also breached the one allowable hour for the Donor to deactivate 147 Ported out lines belonging to Reckitt Ltd consistent with provisions of the MNP Business Rules.
“All the above timer violations are currently undergoing enforcement actions,’’ the commission said.
The regulatory body said that its compliance activity was consistent with Section 89 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
It said that the section mandated the commission to monitor all significant matters relating to the performance of all licensed telecoms service providers and publish annual reports at the end of each financial year.
Answering question from Technology Journalists in Lagos in May, Head Media and Publicity, NCC, Mr Reuben Muoka said MNP is a provision of choice and no subscriber can be forced to make choices.
According to him, the idea is to present as a choice and the good thing is that the opportunity is still open for anyone dissatisfied with one operator to switch to another network provider.
Often times, NCC and telecoms companies differ on the cause few porting amongst subscribers. NCC blames operators while service providers Fault multi-SIMs (Subscribers Identification Module) Phones
Executive Director, Corporate Service, MTN Nigeria, Wale Goodluck said availability of multiple SIM handsets in Nigeria’s mobile market influenced customers’ attitude towards migrating from one service provider to another.
According to him, subscribers have handsets and smartphones that accommodate up to three (3) SIM cards and rather than switch operators handset owners switch network right with their cell phones. He explained that this developemt has negated porting and peoples’ attitude towards MNP.
”Multi-SIMing has affected MNP. phone makers are shipping phones that can accomodate up to 3 SIMs. Nigeria is the largest market for multi-SIM phones and phone users with multi-SIMs handset are not porting.”
Chief Operating Officer, Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria, Uche Onwudiwe said long list of processes and procedures from the donor to the receipient operators had contributed to discourage porting. ”Procedures and processes are slowing down the process. Number Portability ought to be swift. No customer would waste his time on endless procedures just because he wants to migrate to preferred service provider.”
To ensure that MNP becomes a success, Government through NCC appointed a consortium of Interconnect Clearing house Nigeria Limited, Saab Grintek, and Telecordia which was later acquired by Ericson. The companies set up and implemented MNP Clearing House in Nigeria, and provide an MNP administration solution in the country.
The NCC also mandates the consortium to ensure that local content participation and adequate skills transfer are entrenched in the process during the implementation of the five-year license.
