Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria Limited (ICN), the scheme’s administrator, has promised a prompt number porting regime, folllowing the commencement of mobile number portability (MNP) by the Nigeria telecom industry.

Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (rtd.), executive chairman, Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria Limited (ICN), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that the company’s sophisticated porting equipment could port subscribers within a much shorter period.

Madueke added, “We are starting with 48 hours porting, I can assure you that it will not take us up to six (6) hours to port; however, subscribers have to understand the process, because they are part of the speed. Our equipment can port you in less than 10 minutes, but it has to go through the process of checks-and-balances, which if not automated will delay the process further, but not more than 48 hours. 

“For a smoother, faster port, the subscriber should make sure that there are no issues with their existing account that could hinder the smooth porting process such as the line being suspended”.

 The MNP’s, new democratic environment, empowers a subscriber to dump his or her network service provider if he or she is not satisfied with the quality of services rendered and still maintain his or her number.

The ICN executive chairman described the place of the clearinghouse as crucial to the progress of the scheme. 

He said, “Well, ICN is the administrator of the mobile number portability (MNP) scheme. What it means is that we host the data and actualize the porting processes both of which are centrally key to the entire operation”.

Asked how prepared is the Company, Madueke said, “We were prepared long time ago and had worked with the operators to get ready. We have built our systems and facilities to provide adequate service. For instance, we have our main data centre here in Lagos and disaster recovery location in Abuja. We are ready to deliver”.

On system security threats, he assured that ICN has implemented both physical and electronic security features to protect the data of everybody and all stakeholders that will participate in the porting scheme.

“Process of porting also needs a lot of screening. When you go to the porting or customer care centre, the New or Recipient Operator will give you a form to fill. The reason is to verify your identity and also keep records in case of fraudulent ports.

“All this is meticulously monitored before the approval is granted. On our end we pledge that will be meticulous to ensure customers are not unnecessarily delayed. And we have given them 48 hours affirmation.

He expressed confidence that Nigerians are prepared and enthusiastic about the regime. “A lot of people had asked me, ‘When are you people commencing the porting scheme?’ I know they are ready”.

We have made adequate investment in installation of robust equipment to drive the scheme. Assured of return on investment, he said, “Well, I leave it in the hands of Nigerians.

Uche Onwudiwe, chief operating officer (COO), further explained the subscribers’ part to play on their quest to migrate from a network to another. “All they will do is that from whatever network they want to port to – the Recipient Network, they will go to that network and request that their number be ported to that network. At that point, they will be given a ‘port request form’ where they can provide necessary information and they have to show their identity card.  The subscriber will also be given a new SIM card to be used once notified of the successful port.

What will happen is that once the form is filled out, the Recipient Network will send a port request to us and the subscriber is to also send an SMS to shortcode “3232” with the word “port”.  Once we receive both the SMS and the port request, we will work with the donor network to make sure the subscriber is satisfied and they can port over.

Onwudiwe also highlighted reasons why subscribers have to stay on the new network for the next 90 days before they could port again. 

“We have to look at this way; the operators are investing on their network for seamless scheme. So, for each port you make you have to wait for the  90 days, to give the operator you ported to an opportunity to show you what their service is like and what they can do.  NCC set this 90 day mandate however they hold the option to reduce it as the porting process and operator services improve.

“Someone may port over today and for some reasons they may be having some challenges for that day, so it will not be fair to port again to another network immediately; we have to give them the chance to prove themselves. So, after the initial port and on the expiration of the 90 days you can port again or go back to where you came from,” the COO said.