NCC: MTN Nigeria Hit by Largest Number of Porting Subscribers

MTN Nigeria has suffered the biggest hit by recording 49 per cent of overall subscribers that switched service providers under the recently-introduced Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme, according to figures released July 30, 2013 by the telecoms umpire.

With over 114 million active phone lines in Nigeria, mobile phone subscribers now have the freedom to switch from any non-performing operator and still retain their number with the emergence of MNP, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said when the scheme was launched April 22, this year.

On the same day of MNP launch, MTN Nigeria, the largest network by subscriber numbers launched its widely-celebrated “Saka Don Port” campaign. In the controversial TV commercial, MTN Nigeria used an actor known popularly as Saka, who has hitherto featured in TV commercials for rival Etisalat Nigeria, to promote its number porting campaign urging subscribers to migrate to its network.

The Saka Don Port video by MTN Nigeria recorded rave reviews and several wannabes including  YouTube animation were to further trigger mixed reactions from industry market watchers.

Meanwhile, figures released by NCC shows that Etisalat may have emerged the big winner in the MNP duel between the two mobile phone companies as it recorded the biggest gain of 44 per cent in the first month of MNP operation in the country.

Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs of NCC said today that MNP has deepened competition so far and given subscribers a choice to switch networks without losing their unique number, what he cites as one of the gains of the milestone 12th year of commercial roll out of GSM services in Nigeria in August 2001.

Ojobo said that within the first month after the April launch of MNP in the country, among an overall number of subscribers that switched service providers in the telecoms market, MTN Nigeria topped the losers’ table when it recorded 49 per cent of overall switch in May, this year.

Globacom followed MTN Nigeria by recording losses of 23 per cent; Airtel Nigeria was number three with overall loss of 17 per cent while Etisalat Nigeria came last on the losers’ table with 11 per cent, within the first month.