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 on Thursday, 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, Mr. 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.

He said, "I see this affecting sale of phones in Nigeria. Most people still carry their old lines on a particular phone not because they like the lines, but because they have been known with such lines. With MNP, you can still retain that line but use your more preferred network.

"This, therefore, means you may not need to buy a new phone for your preferred line. You will still use your old phone for a new network, while retaining your old line. Of course, you will not need to buy another phone. Somehow, sales of phones will drop."

The Public Relations Manager of Tecno Telecom Limited, Mr. 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.

For him, phones that do not address some of these issues, may have some form of decline as far as patronage is concerned.

Another phone dealer at Computer Village, Ikeja, Mr. Osondu Ejikeme, said since MNP was expected to reduce the number of phone lines people use the number of mobile phones used would also drop.

He said those with one phone line and were planning to get the second one might reverse their decision owing to the benefits of the MNP.

Already, the NCC and telecoms operators as well as the MNP service provider have confirmed their readiness for the scheme, while there has been excitement stemming from what it can do.

Expectedly, the service would give telecoms consumers the freedom of choice, redefine competition and allow subscribers the opportunity to use only one phone and operate on the platform of their choice, the NCC said in a statement on Friday.

It said the service would also impose cutting-edge responsibility on the operators, who would now ensure their quality of service was good enough to retain the confidence of subscribers.

The regulator admitted that the programme was just beginning and would not provide the 'magic wand' to addressing all the problems of the industry immediately.

"While it is envisaged that technical glitches may be expected within the first few days of the service launch, subscribers should visit the NCC website for detailed information on MNP," it added.

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

He said, "The following are very important: As a subscriber, you can port to another operator. However, you will be restricted from porting your number to a third operator within 90 days of a previous port; you can port your number as many times as you like in a given year. This means there is a 90-day restriction before your next port.

"To move your number to a new mobile operator, you need to bring the following into the new operator's stores: Proof of identity is important. It is an identity card, passport or driving licence or an officially-validated photographic identity document. Also, the mobile number you wish to port must be validly registered."

He also gave tips on where a subscriber could go to port his or her number.

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 said both post-paid and pre-paid customers would 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," he added.

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.








Punch