Here, let’s break it down some more: assuming you have an MTN phone number 0803xyz. If you want to opt out (port out) of MTN to start using Airtel, you simply move on to Airtel network (port in) and you continue to use your 0803xyz.
Unbelievable? Well, yes, until NCC stepped in. The system that enables it is called Mobile Number Portability (MNP). It’s been in effect in several countries and it is now available to Nigerians.
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| I Don Port O! U 2 Can Port!! - Saka |
Visit your destination network porting center or office or shop or representative and obtain MNP form, fill it out with a valid ID and you are done. The process is supposed to take less than 48hrs.
There are however some things you should know before making the switch:
1. You can port out only once in 90 days.
2. Once you port out of a network, any unused credit and megabytes disappear, more like you can’t have your cake and eat it.
3. You will get a new SIM from your destination network (recipient) but you will retain your original phone number.
4. As for contacts stored on your SIM, I don’t know if they follow you to your destination network, but I surely will be among the first persons to port out so I will have more on that by then, but I’ll advise you back up your contacts before porting out.
5. During the duration of the porting, you continue to use your old (donor) network.
6. And relax, porting is absolutely free. Please report anybody that tries to charge you for porting to NCC.
--------ADVANTAGES---------
1. The most obvious advantage is that real healthy competition will start among telecoms companies. Previously, subscribers were locked onto telecoms because of the inconveniences of replacing phone numbers that people have come to know them with. When Glo slash call rates and you happen to be on MTN, to take advantage of the slash, you have to buy a Glo SIM, acquire a new phone number and then create awareness for your new Glo number among your contacts. If you can’t go through the hassle, you just ignore the price slash and continue on your more expensive MTN tariff. But with the latest move by NCC, you can just hop on Glo and enjoy the lower tariff. MTN will most likely make moves to have you back by slashing their tariffs too. If you find the new MTN tariffs to your liking, you can just port in back, all this time retaining your original MTN number. Now that’s what I call competition.
2. No necessity to carry more than one phone. Instead of acquiring another phone to house your extra SIM or getting double or triple-SIM phone, why not just port in to another network and stick to a simpler one-phone one-SIM lifestyle? (in order words, phone-sim monogamy) You charge only one battery, protect only one phone from being stolen, carry around only one charger, have a single ringtone, etc.
3. Funding. If you have more than one line, you have to buy recharge cards for all your lines. But on only one line, you buy less recharge cards. The economics is easy, isn’t it?
4. If you land in a place where, say you have an MTN line and service is not available but you can find Airtel, you can port in to Airtel permanently or for the duration of your stay in that area, then return to your MTN after you leave the area. Isn’t that better than buying another SIM? This should be interesting to Corpers, I think.
5. Businesses can change phone numbers without altering call cards, sign or billboards, repainting vehicles, etc.
Miscellaneous
1. New telecoms entering the market will find it easier to snatch subscribers from already existing telecom network.
2. You will no longer be able to tell which network a phone number belongs to by simply studying the digits because the owner might have ported out to another network.
3. The number of active phone lines in the country will reduce because some people will abandon some of their SIMs.
-------Frequently Asked Questions------
Will I be able to take my voicemails, SMS and service settings to my new operator?
You will lose your old voicemail, SMS, MMS and ancillary services, and will need to set these up again with your new service provider.
Will the cost of my calls to my friends and family change after I have ported?
After porting, you may be charged
differently when calling friends and family that are not on the same
network as you. Also, your friends and family may be charged differently
(if they remain on the old network or if the tariff arrangement with
the new operator is different from that of the donor) when calling the
customer after porting.
When can I port to another operator?
You can port at any time. However, you
will be restricted from porting your number to a third operator or back
to your original operator within 90 days of a previous port.
Do I have a limit to the number of porting that I can do with one number in a particular year?
No. You can port your number as many
times as you like in a given year. However, there is a 90 days
restriction before your next port.
If I port to a new network and get a new SIM card , after 90 days, will I follow the same procedure to return to my previous provider?
Yes. Any time you wish to port your
number, you will have to go to the customer care office, retail shop or
authorized dealer of your chosen new service provider to request to port
your number. You will also need to be issued a new SIM card.
Will I use my previous SIM card or
will I be required to get another SIM card from my previous operator
thereby rendering my earlier SIM from this operator useless this time?
You will need to be issued a new SIM
card every time you wish to port your number to a new service provider
as your previous SIM card will not work with your new service provider.
Would I be required to pay for the new SIM card?
You will be issued a new SIM card by your new service provider, which may be free or charged, depending on the service provider.
Can I approach the new operator and decide to register my SIM card with them for the purpose of porting?
Your SIM card must be registered with your current operator before visiting your new service provider.
Can my current operator try to persuade me to stay whilst I am porting?
No. Your current operator is not allowed
to contact you during the porting process to try and persuade you to
stay with them. Any such contact by your current operator must be
reported to your new service provider or the NCC.
If my previous operator calls or
disturbs me as a way of inviting me back to its network within a period
of 90 days of porting, to whom should I report?
You can report this to your new service provider or to the NCC.
How long does porting take?
Your port will be completed within 48 hours.
I’m a post-paid customer can I port if my initial contract has not expired or I haven’t paid my bills?
Yes, post-paid customers will 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.
The old service provider is permitted to use any legal measures to recover any outstanding charges from you.
Will my old operator stop billing me when I port?
Post-paid customers will receive a final bill for usage up to the time their number is ported to the new operator.
How can MNP be said to be free when a network operator may decide to charge for the new SIM card?
The service of porting from one network
operator to another is free. However, since a new SIM card is required
to port, network operators may choose to either sell the new SIM card or
issue it for free to the subscriber.
This message for Nigerian telecom service users is brought to you by KBJOJO International Limited UK
website: www.kbjojo.com
+4475335877994
BB PIN:2a7ca98a
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