Number portability: Mobile phone dealers fear low sales

Mobile phone dealers and retailers may see a drop in their sales figures following the commencement of the mobile number portability scheme.

Some of the players, who spoke to our correspondent, were of the opinion that it was very convenient carrying limited number of phones.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Potech Integrated Services Limited, a major phone dealer in Lagos, Philip Obin, said though Nigerians always embraced new technologies and might want to buy new phones once launched, the MNP scheme would save phone owners the pains of carrying more phones.

The Public Relations Manager of Tecno Telecom Limited, Boukali Mounir, who also spoke to our correspondent on the issue, said, though the MNP encouraged the use of a phone line, phone users might have to settle for the best kind of phones.

According to him, the affordability and durability of products will determine the choice of customers.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Eugene Juwah, called on the subscribers to discharge certain responsibilities.

According to him, customers should go to the customer care offices, retail shops or outlets of their chosen new service provider and meet with authorised sales persons to request to port their numbers.

The NCC boss also informed the subscribers that porting could only be undertaken after visiting the customer care office, retail shop or authorised dealer of the new service provider and was not available by telephone, online or other electronic means.

While urging subscribers not to terminate service with their existing providers before initiating porting with the new service provider, the regulator said it was obligatory for the customer to visit a service centre or the number would not get ported.

Juwah also stated that old service provider was permitted to use legal means to recover outstanding charges from a subscriber, noting that though porting was free, a new operator might decide to charge for the SIM card.