The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) is still to decide whether to implement mobile number portability (MNP), which would allow users to easily switch networks while keeping their number.
The issue has taken on more significance since Airtel took over Warid Telecom, with subscribers concerned they may have to change their number, reports East African Business Week.
Patrick Mwesigwa, director of technology and licensing at the UCC, said: “It is unfortunate that some people could be aggrieved with the merger, but as far as porting is concerned, we’re still consulting.”
The consultations were to ascertain if number portability was viable in the Ugandan market.
James Katsigazi, an engineer with one of the country’s telecom companies, said that had the UCC moved quicker on MNP then subscribers would have been impacted less by the Airtel take over.
South Africa, Kenya and Egypt already have MNP in place, while Nigeria launched MNP just last month.
