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| Parliament Approves Mobile Number Portability |
7/2/2011 |
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Parliament yesterday adopted the report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Regulations 2011, Legislative Instrument (LI) 1994, granting subscribers the opportunity to migrate from one network service provider to another, whilst maintaining their existing phone numbers at their own convenience.
Under the regulation, porting services will be provided for subscribers within 24 hours after receipt of the request under a porting fee, which shall not exceed per port charge and other charges approved by the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The regulation also enjoins an operator of an electronic communications network to provide mobile number portability facilities on reasonable terms and on non-discriminatory basis for a subscriber who meets the requirements of the law.
Moving the motion for the adoption of the committee''s report, Chairman of the committee, Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said ''''the committee observed that the coming into force of the instrument will protect the interest of subscribers by enhancing consumer choice and freedom as well as contribute to building a robust communication industry to ensure the provision of quality mobile services.''''
He noted that ''''the implementation of the MNP will create the platform for fair competition among network operators and promote innovation in the industry to improve services reliability and security needed to support the country''s developmental process.''''
He said the committee noted with satisfaction the assurances by all Service Provides in the country of their commitment and readiness to cooperate fully with the Ministry of Communication and the NCA to
ensure a successful implementation of the facility.
Communications Minister, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, in a contribution to the motion, explained that the purpose of the facility was to factor in consumer choice and effective competition by enabling subscribers to switch among service providers without the cost and inconvenience of changing their phone numbers.
He noted that MNP have been practiced in other parts of the world differently and that Ghana is adopting the unique porting code system of MNP where consumer can move away from a poor quality operator to a better service provider at their own convenience.
The Minister commended the NCA, the regulator, for introducing the facility to deepen competition and improve quality of service in the country and also urged operators to co-operate with the NCA for a smooth implementation of the facility.
Member of Parliament for Evalue -Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku,obserbed that as much as consumer choice will be enhanced, porting facilities must be inspected to ensure efficiency.
She commended the Communication''s Minister for leading the digital revolution and was hopeful that MNP facility will create competition and more jobs for the youth.
The formal launch of the MNP Regulations is slated for July 7, 2011.
Source: ISD (Gilbert Ankrah)
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