Telecom
Changing Telecom Landscape Through Number Portability
There has been clamour by Global System for Mobile communications subscribers in the country for the regulatory authority in the industry to implement number portability, which is believed to be panacea to the lingering quality of service issues. This report looks at benefit and challenges in implementing the system in Nigeria.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has severally indicated its intensions to introduce number portability in the telecommunications sector this year as a move to check poor quality of service, anti competitive behavour by operators as well as ensure economic growth through telecommunications service delivery.
Number portability is a circuit-switch telecommunications network feature that enables end users to retain their telephone numbers when changing service providers, service types, and or locations.
Wireless number portability (WNP) when fully implemented nationwide by both wireline and wireless providers, portability will remove one of the most significant deterrents to changing service, providing unprecedented convenience for consumers and encouraging unrestrained competition in the telecommunications industry. Observers believe that, this is the best method to increase the efficiency of the service provider by increasing the competition, thereby ensuring better services in all respects.
From the subscribers’ perspective, this is a deceptively simple and very welcome change, because they can change wireless service providers without worrying about notifying friends, family and business contacts that their wireless number is changing. In addition, being able to ‘port’ a number from one provider to another eliminates the hassle and expenses of changing business cards, stationery, invoices and other materials for businesses.
From the wireless carrier’s perspective the change is anything, but simple. Virtually all of wireless carriers’ systems are affected. Especially any system that relies on mobile identity numbers (MINs) or mobile directory numbers (MDNs) will be affected. Examples of critical systems and processes that would be affected are: billing, customer service, order activation, call delivery, roamer registration and support, short messages service center, directory assistance, caller ID, calling name presentation, switches, maintenance and CSC systems, home location registers (HLRs), and visiting location registers (VLRs).
According to Thomas Mazzone, vice president, Sales and Alliances Telcordia Interconnection Solutions, Number Portability types include, service provider portability; this is the ability for end users to retain the same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they change from one Operator to another such as toll-free.
Location portability is the ability for end users to retain the same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they move from one permanent physical location to another, while service portability refers to the ability for end users to retain the
same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they change from one type of service to another.
Mazzone added that key drivers for number portability are deregulation and introduction of competition globally, enhanced competition among operators, introduction of new bundles of services as well as creation of downward pressure on prices.
He explained that further that the system makes it easier for newer entrants to gain market share and also enhances the concept of personal mobility like personal terminal.
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that number portability will empowers subscribers to manage their "personal brand" with freedom to change operators, enables fair competition amongst operators and allow innovation to flourish with greater return on investment.
"It will reward creative marketing, service features, pricing models, and high quality with growth in subscriber numbers, revenue, and ARPU," he added. Overview
Though it was introduced as a tool to promote competition in the heavily monopolized wireline telecommunications industry, number portability became popular with the advent of mobile telephones, since in most countries different mobile operators are provided with different area codes and, without portability, changing one’s operator would require changing one’s number. Some operators, especially incumbent operators with large existing subscriber bases, have argued against portability on the grounds that providing this service incurs considerable overhead, while others argue that it prevents vendor lock-in and allows them to compete fairly on price and service. Due to this conflict of interest, number portability is usually mandated for all operators by telecommunications regulatory authorities. In the US, LNP was mandated by the FCC in 1996 with the First Report and Order on LNP and Number Pooling. The mandate required all carriers in the top 100 MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) to be "LNP-capable" and port numbers to any carriers sending a BFR (bona fide request). The ability to keep a number while switching providers is thought to be attractive to consumers. It was also a major point made by CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) preventing customers from leaving Incumbent Line Exchange Carriers (ILECs), thus hindering competition.
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated this in order to increase competition among providers. As of late November 2003, LNP was required for all landline and wireless common carriers, so long as the number is being ported to the same geographical area or telephone exchange. This latest mandate included carriers outside the top 100 MSAs that theretofore enjoyed a rural carrier exemption.
In the United States and Canada, mobile number portability is referred to simply as WNP or WLNP (Wireless LNP). In Japan and Pakistan it is referred to as mobile number portability, (MNP)[1].Wireless Number Portability is available in some parts of Africa, such as South Africa which is the fourth-fastest growing mobile communications market in the world. The country’s three cellular network operators – Vodacom, MTN and Cell C provide telephony to over 39 million subscribers or nearly 80% of the population.
The introduction of number portability as well as the arrival in 2006 of Virgin Mobile, a virtual network service provider that operates in partnership with Cell C, has helped enhance competition. South African mobile companies are making inroads into Africa and the Middle East, with MTN leading with over 20 operations in these emerging markets. Egypt commenced the implementation of number portability on April 7, this year.The Inhibitors
Huge cost is one of the most common barriers in WNP implementation, within any country. Service Providers have been constantly bargaining for time, based on the cost factor, from their respective governments. Referring to the example of the US, where each of the large carriers would need to spend $50–60 million to institute the service and an equivalent sum to maintain it. The FCC on this plea gave wireless carriers in the US a year to resolve implementation issues. The experience of developed countries exhibits that local number portability for fixed wireline was introduced within two to three years of introduction of competition to incumbent state telcos. The cost estimate for the implementation of WNP in developed nations like the US can be very helpful for the other countries, who wish to think on the lines of number portability. To add on increased marketing costs are to be realized as the carriers look to lock up their current base before number portability is implemented, and then aggressively pursue the customers of other carriers thereafter.
Customer retention/increased competition issues: Every subscriber in a race to retain its customer would like to offer its customers best services so as to save them from porting. It’s like a blessing in disguise for the customers, as they would get better service irrespective of the carrier, albeit with the same number.
Infrastructure upgrade; to support WNP, a company has to upgrade both its hardware and software capabilities, which will amount to some cost. Software need to be upgraded to provide proper routing of calls. The carriers need to upgrade their networks to handle portability requests. The provider, which has its portability compatible would be expected to attract maximum customers and will emerge the winner.
Cost Recovery and Bill Reconciliation/Query Processing; when a customer plans to shift, the old service provider (OSP) has to perform a query to identify if there are any billing amounts pending, which they need to recover before the subscriber moves to the new service provider (NSP).
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) said that number portability is a common practice all over the world; it is a feature that can be supported by networks. But, he said that the regulatory authority has not done well in its approach to introducing number portability as it has not carried operators along.
This some industry watchers attributed to refusal by operators to be apart of a forum organized by NCC to educated operators on implementation of number portability held last year.
Although some sections of stakeholders have describer the uninteresting attitude of operators especially Global System for mobile communications (GSM) operators to fear of losing subscribers in view of poor quality of service by such operators.
They argued that most Nigerian subscriber don’t want to change their mobile phone which their friends and business associates have known them with, which is responsible for them not willing to move to other service providers even when their network operator’s service delivery is poor.
Adebayo urged for stakeholders’ involvement to determining the commercial, engineering and administrative implication of number portability implementation.
As mobile subscribers in the country are anxiously waiting for the commencement of the implementation of number portability which will ensure an improved quality of service, observers caution that operators be carried along to ensure it smooth implementation for it to achieve the desire result as in other countries.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to foster a more enabling environment for innovation by inaugurating a Technical Working Group (TWG) aimed at strengthening regulatory collaboration and advancing a coordinated sandbox framework for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Group photograph of the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, with the newly inaugurated members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the National Regulatory Sandbox, at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, emphasised the critical need for stronger cross-agency cooperation to address structural regulatory challenges that often hinder the pace of innovation.
Inuwa noted that members of the Technical Working Group were deliberately selected based on their strategic institutional roles and capacity to contribute practical solutions tailored to the evolving realities of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He explained that while regulatory agencies have legitimate and clearly defined mandates, the increasing complexity of digital technologies requires greater institutional alignment and collaboration to ensure regulatory frameworks support, rather than constrain, innovation.
“As government institutions, our core responsibility is to provide solutions to the challenges faced by Nigerians. The issue is not a lack of commitment, but a structural one. Regulators often operate in silos while implementing their mandates, and in today’s digital environment, that model presents significant limitations,” he said.
The NITDA Director General observed that the rapid expansion of the digital economy continues to outpace conventional regulatory systems, creating gaps that can inadvertently delay or obstruct the deployment of innovative solutions capable of improving livelihoods and driving national development.
To address these challenges, he said the Agency is championing a multi-agency regulatory framework designed to bring regulators together, foster understanding of overlapping mandates, and collectively develop adaptive mechanisms that create room for innovation while maintaining effective oversight.
Central to this strategy, Inuwa explained, is the adoption of regulatory sandboxes—controlled environments where innovators can test emerging technologies and solutions under the supervision and guidance of relevant regulatory authorities.
“Our guiding principle is that we learn by doing. Through these sandboxes, regulators can contribute to building safe spaces where innovation can be nurtured, tested, and scaled for the benefit of Nigerians,” he added.
He further reassured stakeholders that the initiative is not intended to weaken or override any agency’s statutory powers, but rather to improve coordination and build a more responsive regulatory ecosystem capable of keeping pace with technological advancement.
According to him, stronger inter-agency collaboration is essential to ensuring that Nigeria remains competitive in the global digital economy and fully harnesses innovation as a driver of inclusive economic growth and national prosperity.
Inuwa expressed optimism that the Technical Working Group would serve as a strategic platform for shaping forward-looking regulatory solutions while advancing NITDA’s broader vision of repositioning the Agency as an ecosystem orchestrator committed to enabling digital transformation and sustainable national development.
Presenting an overview of the National Regulatory Sandbox, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Victoria Fabunmi, said the initiative is designed to provide a structured, legal, and multi-agency framework that enables innovators to test emerging technologies under regulatory supervision before obtaining full market approval.
According to her, despite rapid advancements across sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, fintech, health technology, and blockchain, innovators continue to face significant challenges due to siloed regulations, fragmented approval processes, and the absence of coordinated mechanisms for testing new technologies.
Fabunmi noted that while Nigeria’s digital economy continues to witness remarkable growth, the lack of harmonised regulatory engagement has often delayed innovation and increased uncertainty for startups and technology-driven enterprises.
Describing the National Regulatory Sandbox as more than just a digital platform, she explained that it is fundamentally a governance and legal framework aimed at creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive responsibly.
Unlike traditional sandbox models often associated primarily with financial services regulation, Fabunmi said Nigeria’s approach is intentionally sector-agnostic, allowing regulators from multiple sectors—including agriculture, digital health, mobility, clean energy, and digital public infrastructure—to collaborate in supporting innovative solutions.
Under the framework, startups and innovators will be able to engage multiple regulators simultaneously within a controlled testing environment, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and significantly shortening time-to-market for emerging solutions.
She added that the sandbox will also generate shared, evidence-based regulatory insights, enabling participating agencies to make informed decisions collectively and develop adaptive policies that support responsible innovation.
The inauguration of the Technical Working Group marks another significant step in NITDA’s efforts to build a more agile, collaborative, and innovation-friendly regulatory environment—one that aligns with Nigeria’s broader ambition of becoming a leading digital economy in Africa.
MTN Nigeria has announced the selection of 25 media practitioners and digital content creators for the fifth cohort of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP), reinforcing its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s media industry through capacity building, innovation, and leadership development.
MTN MIP 2026
The Media Innovation Programme (MIP), implemented in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, continues to serve as a platform for equipping journalists, broadcasters, and digital content creators with the skills, exposure, and mentorship required to thrive in today’s evolving media ecosystem.
This year’s fellows were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across print, broadcast, digital media, and content creation, reflecting the programme’s growing reputation and influence within the industry. In commemoration of the techo’s 25th anniversary, the cohort has been expanded from 20 fellows in previous editions to 25 for the year.
Speaking on the first day of the programme, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, described the initiative as a reflection of the company’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and continuous learning. “At MTN Nigeria, innovation, insight, knowledge, skills, and partnership matter deeply to us.
“The Media Innovation Programme represents all these values – a partnership not just with Pan-Atlantic University, but with every fellow.
“This programme is an adventure in learning, one that challenges participants to reconsider assumptions, revise opinions, rethink ideas, and ultimately grow both professionally and personally,” he said.
Also speaking during the session, Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, encouraged the fellows to recognise the programme as more than a professional milestone, describing it as a transformative experience designed to prepare them to make meaningful contributions to the media industry and society at large.
“The media space today faces significant challenges, and this programme equips participants not just for personal development, but to make a real difference.
“Beyond skills and exposure, we place strong emphasis on values such as truth, honesty, ethics, and responsibility to society. We hope that every fellow leaves this programme better prepared to contribute significantly to the future of media,” he said.
The selected fellows for the fifth cohort include:
1. Agbetiloye David Adekunle (Senior Reporter, Business Insider Africa)
2. Adeniyi Fatima Adetoke (Content Writer, NotJustOk)
3. Adetola Kayode (State House Correspondent/ News Anchor, Lagos Television)
4. Ajibola Tolulope (Presenter, Silverbird Television)
5. Aliyu Usman (Assistant Chief Correspondent/ Editor, News Agency of Nigeria)
6. Augoye Jayne (Arts, Entertainment and Culture Editor, Premium Times)
7. Auwal Muhammad Ibrahim (Senior Editor, Halal Reporters)
8. Collins Christopher (Programmes Producer, News Central Television)
9. Dan-Ikpoyi Veronica (Senior Anchor, TVC Communications)
10. Dike Chiamaka Patricia (Broadcast Journalist, BBC News)
11. Eluemunoh David (Digital Content Creator)
12. Eseimokumoh Denise Loliaba (Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire Nigeria)
13. Fosudo Oluwafisayo (Digital Content Creator)
14. Godfrey Progress (Reporter, Vanguard Media Limited)
15. Itiafe Glory Ugonma (Broadcast Journalist, Diamond 88.5 FM)
16. Kasali Segun (ICT Correspondent, Nigerian Tribune);
17. Ofonedu Sarah (On-Air Personality, Inspiration FM)
18. Okamgba Justice (Reporter, The Punch)
19. Onwuka Emmanuel (Presenter & Executive Producer, Nigeria Info FM)
20. Oyesanmi Ifeduyi (Managing Editor, TechCabal)
21. Sabastine Emmanuel (Sports Commentator, Team 33 Production)
22. Taiwo Kafilat (Data Journalist, Media Trust Group)
23. Thomas-Odia Ijeoma (Editor, The Guardian Woman, The Guardian)
24. Ugwu Amarachukwu Deborah (On-Air Personality, Rhythm 93.7 FM PH) and
25. Ukachukwu Nneka (Editor/Producer, Voice of Nigeria).
Over the years, the Media Innovation Programme has grown into a leading media fellowship in Nigeria, providing participants with access to industry experts, structured mentorship, hands-on learning experiences, and global best practices in media and communication.
The six-month programme commenced on Monday, May 18, 2026. During this period, the fellows will receive intensive education focused on media innovation, digital transformation, strategic communication, storytelling, and leadership development both in Nigeria and during their one-week study visit to South Africa
MTN reiterates its commitment to supporting journalism and advancing media excellence in Nigeria, while empowering professionals who continue to shape important conversations across the continent.
Airtel Africa Plc has announced a strategic initiative in partnership with Barclays Capital Securities Limited to execute on-market share purchases totaling up to $110 million.
This initiative will be divided into non-discretionary and discretionary segments, marking a proactive step in optimizing the company’s capital structure and enhancing shareholder value.
In a statement released on the Nigerian Exchange and signed by Simon O’Hara, group company secretary, Airtel Africa described this share buyback program as a key component of its broader strategy to return cash to shareholders.
It noted that the program aims to repurchase up to one percent of the company’s issued share capital as of the date of this announcement.
“This decision by the Board reflects the organization’s strong financial position and its commitment to maintaining flexibility while continuing to invest for growth across its markets.
“The initial phase of the program will see Airtel Africa collaborating with Barclays Capital Securities to facilitate the purchase of its ordinary shares,” the statement noted.
According to Airtel Africa, the agreement features two key components operating concurrently: a non-discretionary segment allowing Barclays to purchase up to $60 million of ordinary shares independently of the company, and a discretionary segment where Airtel Africa can guide Barclays in purchasing an additional $50 million, adhering to the regulations set forth by the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.
“The program is set to commence today and is expected to conclude by November 27, 2026, unless terminated earlier under the agreement’s terms. Airtel Africa has signaled that as the initiative progresses, further tranches may be announced to achieve its objective of repurchasing up to one percent of its issued share capital.
“The primary aim of this buyback program is to streamline the company’s capital. Accordingly, all shares purchased will be cancelled, contributing to a more efficient capital structure. Any transactions will be performed in alignment with pre-defined parameters outlined in the agreement with Barclays and comply with the authority granted by shareholders for share repurchases.”
At the annual general meeting on July 9, 2025, shareholders authorized the company to buy back a maximum of 366.073 million ordinary shares.
Following the previous buyback program, the remaining authority now stands at a maximum of 357.042 million ordinary shares, demonstrating ongoing support from shareholders for these initiatives.
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