Monday, 22 April 2013

GSM number portability finally takes off


Subscriber Identity Module SIM number portability, an operation which allows GSM subscribers to migrate from one network to another without changing their old number takes off today.

Work on the portability dates back a year when the Nigeria Communications Commission NCC directed telecommunication companies to begin work on the project.

The migration, which will be at no cost to the subscriber, would eventually be extended to telecommunications subscribers on CDMA and fixed lines.

NCC had last year, released guidelines for the planned introduction of number portability across networks.

The guidelines exempt subscribers from paying any fee that may be charged by telecoms operators, when they asked for number porting from one network to another.

NCC maintains that exercise would “guarantee freedom of choice for subscribers, redefine competition in the industry and allow subscribers to use only one phone while operating on the platform of their choice.”

Also, porting could only be undertaken by visiting the customer service offices or outlets, as the exercise would not be available through telephone, online or other electronic means.

Subscribers are equally advised against terminating their services with their existing service providers before initiating porting with new service providers.

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