MTN Nigeria ready to implement MNP

The telecoms operator – which holds the majority of the market in Nigeria – confirmed that the necessary infrastructural developments have been completed and a staff base put in place ready for the launch of the new initiative. Numerous tests are ongoing to ensure the system can be rolled out without delay.

“We have made necessary investment in infrastructure and manpower and we are now finalising the process of making this project a reality,” said Brett Goschen, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria.

“We are confident that when the NCC is ready to blow the whistle for the kick off of this project, we will be ready.”

While speculation had been rife that the major operators may oppose the MNP policy through fear of losing their customer base, MTN insists that indications are that users will use MNP to join their network, given that MTN provides the most extensive coverage in the country and has spent significant amounts in upgrading infrastructure and offerings.

“As you know, we have made far more investment in our network than any other operator in Nigeria has done, with the result that  we are today the clear leader with effective network coverage of more than 85 percent of Nigeria’s land mass and population,” Goschen said.

“We have nearly 100 percent coverage of most major highways in Nigeria and we are gradually moving towards the final laps of a massive, nationwide network modernisation and swap-out exercise that is bound to give the network unequalled capacity and much improved quality of service. We have no doubt in our minds that mobile phone users on other networks in Nigeria will be eager to port into MTN to avail themselves of these and other benefits they can only find on the MTN network.

“We are excited that customers who wish to join the network with the most coverage of Nigeria will now be able to do so without worrying about losing their mobile numbers.”