NCC to introduce number portability system after SIM registration

THE Nigerian Communication Commission has said that it would introduce a number portability system for subscribers as part of its plans to make telecommunication services in the country more efficient.

THE Nigerian Communication Commission has said that it would introduce a number portability system for subscribers as part of its plans to make telecommunication services in the country more efficient.

Okechukwu Etanyi, the executive commissioner, Stakeholders Management in the Commission, who said this in Abuja recently at the telecoms consumer parliament, added that the system would begin after the ongoing SIM registration.

He added that all subscribers should endeavour to register their SIM cards with the service providers before the September 28 deadline to enable the commission to proceed with its programmes as scheduled.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 62nd telecoms consumer parliament had in attendance representatives of all the telecommunications operators in Nigeria, consumers as well as other stakeholders in the industry.

NAN recalls that the telecoms consumer parliament is a forum where regulators, operators, consumers and stakeholders meet to deliberate on issues in the industry.

The 62nd edition featured presentations by resource persons on the benefits of SIM card registration on the economy and security of subscribers.

“We will introduce an innovation in the industry called number portability, which will commence after the ongoing SIM card registration exercise.

“It is a system that allows a subscriber to maintain his mobile number even when he or she changes a service provider, this will make service delivery more efficient and effective,” he said.

He further said that the number portability would only work effectively when all subscribers were registered.

Etanyi said that the NCC would focus more on the ongoing SIM card registration to ensure that innovations introduced in the industry did not fail.

On the ongoing SIM card registration in the country, the NCC official said that the registration was the final step in the acquisition of a mobile number by a subscriber.