Finally! It's now going to be freedom of choice for mobile phone users as SIM portability begins today with Globacom and Airtel kicking starting the process. The much-awaited Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number portability, which allows GSM subscribers to migrate from one network to another without changing their old number takes off today, bringing to an end months of experimentation to see the workability of the idea.
The migration, which will be at no cost to the subscriber, is expected to improve the service of the operators, as each service provider has to up its game with a bid to satisfying the subscribers.
Yesterday, the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, will launch the much awaited Mobile Number Portability, MNP, with Lagos as its flag-off point. The four GSM operators — MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat — are in tip-toe expectancy. No less ecstatic are Nigeria’s over 113 million subscribers.
With their Subscriber Identity Module, SIM, cards, subscribers can dump any lousy Global System for Mobile, GSM, Communications service provider and navigate to another network. They can do this effortlessly without calling at the offices of the companies.
The idea first came up over 24 months ago but more efforts went into actualising it last year. It almost ended in a yoyo as the original take-off date was shifted from last year March to June, December and today, in the first quarter of 2013. While Nigeria was dilly dallying over it, Kenya and Ghana beat it to the new experience.
Kudos must go to NCC for taking such huge step in enforcing this process and I personally hope they don't relent in wielding the big stick when it is necessary. This is because I know the stage is now properlly set for competitions among the subscribers and it will get more and more stiffer, and so the commission need not relent in ensuring the subscribers provide less than satisfactory.
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