Nigeria’s largest telecoms company MTN Nigeria unveiled a new television advert promoting mobile number portability (MNP), just hours after it was launched yesterday, in an early sign that competition will increase with MNP.
HumanIPO reported this morning MNP had gone live after the Omobola Johnson, the country’s communications technology minister, launched it in Lagos.
It is hoped the scheme will increase competition in the mobile operator sector by giving more power to consumers by allowing them to switch networks while still keeping their original number.
The new MTN TV commercial features a popular actor, Hafiz Oyetoro (known as Saka) who used to feature in several Etisalat adverts and on their billboards.
In the “I don Port” commercial (below), Saka sang he has joined MTN via MNP and advised others to do the same and enjoy the benefit of switching network while retaining number.
In the advert, MTN said subscribers of other networks can join MTN by walking in to any MTN authorized outlet or send ‘PORT’ to 3232.
Funmilayo Omogbenigun, MTN Nigeria’s general Manager of corporate affairs, also confirmed to HumanIPO that the network had slashed the cost of BlackBerry Complete BIS monthly subscription from NGN1,500 (US$9.50) to NGN1,000 (US$6.30).
The network is the second network to reduce the cost of its BlackBerry subscription within days, following Etisalat’s similar slash from NGN1,500 to NGN1,000.
