The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has delayed the launch of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) until the end of April, in order to give network operators enough time to prepare their networks.
Portability will now start on April 30, the NCC said, the latest in a number of delays to the introduction of number portability.
Speaking to the Daily Trust, Tony Ojobo, director of public affairs at the NCC, explained the latest delay is necessary in order to allow mobile network operators and the relevant service providers to finish preparing networks for the new system.
Ojobo added there is no question of backtracking on the introduction of mobile number portability, but rather the NCC wants to ensure a problem-free rollout of the system with adequate preparation.
The launch of portability has been a lengthy task so far in Nigeria, the NCC originally having promised in May 2012 the system would be available by June of the same year.
Following much finger-pointing by industry players and the commission as to the cause of the delays, the NCC most recently pinpointed March 26 as the launch date for portability.
However, citing the same causes as today’s delay – lack of preparation of operators – the NCC delayed the launch to April 4, and has now failed to meet today’s deadline.
