Telecom
MNP Clocks 3, Now Records 601 Average Daily Porting- ICN
The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) launched by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on April, 2013, has been recording increase on the number of subscribers migrating from one network operator to another.
MNP is a service that enables a subscriber to retain their mobile phone number when changing from one mobile service provider to another.
While launching the Service, NCC had hinted on the benefit which gives a subscriber opportunity to switch between services providers without having to go through the trouble of informing their friends, family and colleagues of a new contact number as the number stays the same.
Statistics by the Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria Limited (ICN), on Thursday, shows that network subscribers are actually leveraging MNP to their advantage with an average of 601 daily Porting in the period, January and March 2016.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Oladele Ayanbadejo, managing director of ICN, acknowledged that 601 is the highest average number daily ports they have recorded.
Other data ICN shared show that in 2014 and 2015, during the same period, the average daily ports were 315 and 479 respectively, while the average daily ports in the year 2013 was 228.
Ayanbadejo told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that ICN expects average daily completed ports for 2016 will definitely surpass any figures they have ever recorded.
So Far…
Speaking on the third anniversary, the MD said, “I would like to start by highly commending the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for the introduction of number portability into the Nigerian telecommunications industry. The benefits of the incentive are far reaching.
“First of all, it placed Nigeria at par with the highly industrialized and advanced economies of the world where telecoms consumers have been able to port for decades.
“Secondly, it mitigates monopoly of market share by any of the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) as a subscriber is free to switch provider at will. The Mobile Number Portability scheme also minimizes anti-competitive practices by the MNOs and creates a level playing field.
Mobile Number Portability is also of immense benefit to the Mobile Network Operator’s as a new entrant Network Operator will find it easier to acquire subscribers. This is because the migration process to a new service provider has been completely simplified”.
He added that existing network operators also benefit from the scheme as it gives them the opportunity to increase their market share, while maximizing the number range allocated to them.
“In addition, mobile number portability is cost effective for Organisations. Corporate communication has become cheaper and easier. Official mobile numbers can be ported to one network and enjoy the benefit of cheaper ‘on net rates’”.
Re-Emphasizing The Purpose of MNP
The ICN Boss described the scheme as designed to meet the needs of all consumers and it is available to both pre-paid and post-paid mobile customers.
“Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria Limited (ICN) is a wholly Nigerian Owned Company, and it is remarkable that the Nigerian Communications Commission selected and licensed ICN and our technical partners’ iconectiv and Saab Grintek as the successful bidders to implement the number portability project.
“We have recorded tremendous growth since the inception of the scheme and we would like to offer our profound thanks and gratitude to the NCC for the opportunity given to us to contribute positively to the industry,” he said.
MNOs’ Participation
According to the MD, the ongoing support and regulatory guidance given to them by the Commission cannot be over emphasized, adding that mobile network operators (MNOs’) currently participating in the number porting live production environment have also played a huge role in contributing to the successful implementation of the scheme.
“MTN, Airtel, Etisalat and Globacom have exhibited the highest level of professionalism and fair play. This has led to a steady increase in the porting figures.
The Statistics Tell The Story
“There has been a steady increase in number porting since its inception in April 2013. In the period of January 2016 to March 2016 we recorded an average of 601 daily ports. This is the highest average number daily ports we have ever recorded.
Statistics On Average Porting Process Since Inception
In 2014 and 2015 during the same period, ICN said they recorded average daily ports of 315 and 479 respectively.
“The average daily completed ports in the year 2013 was 228. The average daily completed ports in the year 2014 was 405, while in 2015, we recorded 592 average daily complete ports. The average daily completed ports for 2016 will definitely surpass any figures we have ever recorded”.
The increase in the number of successful ports can be attributed to the NCC who have diligently ensured that the mobile number portability participants strictly adhere to the laid down Number Portability Business Rules and Porting Orders.
Down Review Of 90 Days Porting Restriction Window
He said that NCC has also taken certain proactive steps which have improved the porting experience.
This includes reducing the port restriction time. The port restriction time was reduced to 45 days from the initial 90 days.
“This reduction in the number of days a subscriber can stay on a mobile network, before having the liberty to move to another network led to an average daily increase of about 35 to 45 completed ports.
“In addition, the NCC modified the Number Porting Business Rules, to place a porting restriction on newly registered numbers.
“All newly registered numbers, are restricted from porting for seven days after registration. This has helped to curtail the activities of mischief makers”, he said.
While thanking the technical partners, Ayanbadejo, said that iconectiv and Saab Grintek displayed unique set of specialized skills and immeasurable expertise that they brought to the implementation of the scheme.
The need for Nigeria to think outside the box in its need to drive towards global relevance with innovations and scientific developments will be on the front burner at the NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference scheduled to hold on Thursday July 23, 2026 in Ikeja, Lagos.
NITRA
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will lead other delegates to discuss and take far-reaching decisions at the event, which has its theme as “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation”.
Other companies that have indicated interest in partnering with NITRA include mobile communications company, Tecno; Africa’s premier end-to-end AI solutions company, Hyperspace; and telecommunications data infrastructure company, Digital Realty.
Speaking on the proposed event, the Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Chike Onwuegbuchi noted that the event will seek to create a platform for government and private organisations to deliberate on policies around scientific innovations in Nigeria, challenges, place of indigenous and foreign collaboration, roles of each stakeholder, and grassroots development in that regard, among others.
According to him: “The Federal government, with series of programmes and partnerships, has established the urgent need to create an ecosystem that thrives on scientific innovation, breeding institutions and individuals with a target of placing the country at the fore-front of Next-Gen development.
It is a known fact that digital and scientific innovations are crucial, not only to the survivability of a nation, but also to the sustainability of its growth and development, with significant effect on economic strength, global image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, and public health and safety, communication and digital footprint, among others.
The federal government is actively driving scientific innovation to foster economic diversification and build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Efforts are heavily focused on commercializing research, establishing massive research funds, and funding strategic infrastructure, particularly in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare. Core government initiatives and policies include the newly instituted National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which aims to mobilize about $500 million annually to support research and the commercialization of scientific outputs; and the Nigeria Genomic City, a multi-ministerial initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading hub for genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology. It is designed to protect indigenous data, stimulate artificial intelligence in health, and develop a highly skilled scientific workforce.
According to the General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, the forum will also be a vehicle to propagating the views of decision makers to the public, thereby furthering the cause of public awareness and information dissemination on the topic.
The focus, he said will be on how Nigeria can sustain digital innovative growth and scientific development in Nigeria
The board of global payments company, PayPal, says a 53 billion dollars takeover offer from financial technology firm, Stripe, and private equity company, Advent International, does not adequately reflect the company’s long-term value.
PayPal
According to reports, the proposed acquisition, valued at 60.50 dollars per share, remains under consideration, with the board yet to formally respond to the offer.
The directors are said to be evaluating not only the financial value of the proposal but also the structure of the financing, the timeline for completing the transaction and the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approvals.
They are also considering the possibility of competing bids emerging.
Although the offer represents a premium of about 28 per cent above PayPal’s recent share price, the board believes the company could deliver greater value to shareholders if its ongoing turnaround strategy succeeds.
Following reports of the bid, PayPal shares gained about two per cent to close at 56.73 dollars.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Stripe and Advent have secured approximately 50 billion dollars in debt financing from JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, while both firms would jointly contribute 17 billion dollars in equity.
Under the proposal, the two companies would jointly own PayPal instead of dividing its operations.
PayPal, Stripe, Advent International, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have all declined to comment on the proposed transaction.
The discussions come as PayPal seeks to strengthen its business after years of increasing competition from rivals including Apple Pay, Google Pay and emerging financial technology firms.
The company, which was valued at about 360 billion dollars in 2021, now has a market capitalisation of approximately 36 billion dollars.
Since assuming office as Chief Executive Officer in March 2026, Enrique Lores has embarked on a restructuring programme aimed at improving operational efficiency and restoring growth.
The restructuring includes the creation of three business divisions comprising Checkout, Venmo and Consumer Financial Services, and Payments and Crypto.
The company is also targeting 1.5 billion dollars in cost savings through the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
PayPal’s latest financial results indicated signs of recovery, with first-quarter revenue rising seven per cent year-on-year to 8.35 billion dollars, while total payment volume increased by eight per cent to 464 billion dollars.
If approved, the transaction would combine two of the world’s largest digital payments companies.
The combined business would process an estimated 3.7 trillion dollars in annual payment volume, significantly strengthening its position in the global online payments market.
However, analysts expect the proposed acquisition to face intense regulatory scrutiny because of the companies’ combined market share in merchant payment services.
To address possible antitrust concerns, the bidders have reportedly considered options, including separating PayPal’s Braintree business or other assets if required by regulators.
Sources said Stripe and Advent remain interested in pursuing the acquisition despite the board’s reservations, although negotiations are expected to continue.
Market observers are also awaiting PayPal’s earnings report scheduled for July 28 for further indications of the company’s financial recovery and future growth prospects.
Concerns over network reliability and its impact on Nigeria’s growing creator economy took centre stage at MTN Nigeria’s Data on Trial event, where content creator and streamer, Jarvis, challenged telecommunications operators to improve connectivity for digital creators.
Speaking during the event, Jarvis asked whether there were locations in Nigeria where uninterrupted internet connectivity could support real-life (IRL) streaming without network disruptions.
“Are there places where there is no breakage when streaming IRL?” she asked.
Her question highlighted the challenges faced by content creators who depend on stable internet services for live streaming, content uploads and real-time engagement with audiences.
Responding, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, said network performance depends on several factors, including location, network coverage, device capability and the number of users connected to a particular base station.
He noted that operators continue to invest in expanding network capacity to meet the growing demand for data services.
Earlier, MTN’s General Manager, Network Performance and Quality Assurance, Mr Michael Ndukwe, explained the evolution of mobile network technology in Nigeria, from first-generation (1G) services to the current fifth-generation (5G) technology.
According to him, each phase of technological advancement has significantly increased network capacity and enabled new digital services.
Ndukwe cited Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data showing that Nigerians consumed about 13.2 million terabytes of data in 2025.
He added that data usage reached approximately 4.06 million terabytes in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the country’s increasing reliance on digital platforms and online services.
According to him, the growth is being driven by wider adoption of 4G and 5G networks, increased smartphone penetration, the proliferation of smart devices and expanding use of social media platforms.
Participants at the event noted that as more Nigerians build businesses and careers around digital content, access to reliable and high-speed internet has become critical to sustaining the country’s digital economy and creator ecosystem.
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