Wireless Federation

CCK sets terms for number portability (Kenya)

On 03.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has reportedly announced that it will take a maximum of 2 days for a mobile phone subscriber to migrate to a new network once mobile number portability comes into effect on April 1.

The MNP process is expected to begin as scheduled. CCK stated that the process could also take a few minutes but that it has set 48 hours as the maximum time needed to port numbers. As per Regulator Director General Charles Njoroge, CCK will launch a consumer campaign this week, providing more information over the process.

A subscriber will have to stay within the new network for three months before being allowed to port again. To migrate, subscribers must pay a one off fee of US$2.40, with normal charges applied thereafter.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: CCK • Charles Njoroge • Communications Commission of Kenya • director general • Kenya • MNP • Number Portability • operator

Safaricom says set to launch MNP (Kenya)

On 03.22.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Safaricom Kenya has stated that it is ready to launch the MNP services (Mobile number portability) ahead of the April 1 deadline.

According to CEO Bob Collymore, Safaricom has aligned all the critical systems and is ready to implement the protocol from the April 1 date as set by the Communications Commission of Kenya. Safaricom hopes that other operators are equally prepared. He stated that inter-operator tests carried out so far by Safaricom and one of the operators as instructed by the CCK had shown a system that works.

He hoped that tests with other operators will be comparable and welcomed mobile subscribers to take advantage of the new protocol to migrate and enjoy Safaricom’s proposition. Porting subscribers are expected to pay a fee of US$2.34 to Porting Access, the company appointed to administer the porting process.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bob Collymore • CCK • CEO • Communications Commission of Kenya • Kenya • MNP • Mobile Number Portability • operator • Porting Access • Safaricom

Vodafone tops the MNP chart (India)

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new data has revealed that Vodafone India has so far gained the most, following India’s move allowing mobile users to retain their numbers even when they switch carriers.

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), mobile number portability (MNP), which was launched in a northern state in late November and nationwide from Jan. 20, was not a game changer for the industry.

The COAI stated that less than 5 million subscribers, or less than 1% of the country’s total customers, had opted to switch carriers. Of these, a net 192,761 customers switched to India’s third-largest mobile carrier Vodafone Essar, while sixth-ranked Idea Cellular was next, with net gains of 150,789 customers.

Data showed that top mobile operator Bharti Airtel gained a net 148,215 customers in MNP, but No. 2 Reliance Communications was a net loser of 306,417 customers.

With 771 million mobile subscribers as of January, India is the world’s second-biggest market for mobile services and with monthly additions averaging 19 million in the past one year; it is the world’s fastest growing market.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bharti Airtel • Cellular Operators Association of India • COAI • Idea Cellular • India • MNP • operator • Reliance Communications • Vodafone • Vodafone Essar

Nokia files lawsuit against Kenyan Number Portability Clearing House

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Nokia has filed a lawsuit against the Kenyan company that is going to manage the clearing house for Mobile Number Portability next month over unpaid bills.

The company, Porting Access Kenya, is being sued by four different organizations over the unpaid bills which amount to nearly US$4 million.

According to reports citing court documents, Nokia is the lead plaintiff and is suing for US$3.7 million, while Daima Bank wants US$1,41,840, businessman Sanjeet Thethy US$6,38,280 which includes interest and lawyer Njeri Onyango 41,370.

Porting Access won the tender to manage the MNP clearing house out of seven firms that tendered and will charge a fee of US$2.36 per number ported.

Launching MNP in Kenya has had a troubled history. The plans, originally announced in 2004 were put on hold in 2007 after the regulator cited the high costs of implementing the system. They were then resurrected in late 2008 for launch between March and September 2009. Due to be offered by July, the deadline was pushed back to the end of 2010, and now to April 2011.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Daima Bank • Kenya • MNP • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • Njeri Onyango • Nokia • Number Portability Clearing House • Porting Access Kenya • Sanjeet Thethy

CCK says operators ready to begin MNP testing (Kenya)

On 03.18.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) has stated that the mobile operators are ready to begin testing the mobile number portability system.

As per CCK, according to the latest reports of the technical meetings, all operators are ready to commence testing their MNP systems this week.

According to previous reports, a number of mobile operators were not technically ready for the service which is to be implemented on April 1. Orange Kenya Mickael Ghossein stated that operators were yet to carry out technical trials and some don’t have the equipment in place.

The regulator added that although the mobile operators may not be exactly at the same level of preparedness, the Commission is yet to receive any formal notification suggesting inability to implement MNP by the agreed date of April 1. The country missed the initial December 2010 deadline due to logistical issues, operators said.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: CCK • Communications Commission of Kenya • Kenya • Mickael Ghossein • MNP • Mobile Number Portability • operators • Orange Kenya

38.3 lakh mobile users opt for MNP (India)

On 03.10.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has revealed that the number of mobile subscribers opting for mobile number portability (MNP) has been more than doubled in less than a month in the country.

TRAI stated that by February-end, around 38.33 lakh people had opted for MNP. The service allows subscribers to switch service providers but retain their original mobile number.Till February 5, about 17.11 lakh subscribers had put in requests for changing their mobile service provider.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: India • MNP • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • Service Provider • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India • Trai

NCA to implement MNP from July 1 (Ghana)

On 03.10.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) is preparing to implement the mobile number portability (MNP) from July 1, 2011, to give mobile users the option of switching service providers for the first time.

It is understood the NCA has completed more than 90% of the necessary technical groundwork needed to facilitate MNP, with its Director of regulatory and administration affairs, Joshua Peprah, confirming that all is set for the take off of the MNP on July 1.

As per Peprah, the regulator has selected a privately owned joint-venture partnership, Porting Access Ghana (PAG), to establish a central database of all ported numbers and also to facilitate porting within 24 hours. It will cost the user around US$2.50 to port his or her number to the new network provider via PAG’s system.

It is hoped that the introduction of number porting will increase competition and drive down prices as cellcos launch new offers and â€˜freebies’ in a bid to convince customers to stay with them when MNP takes off.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Director of regulatory and administration affairs • Freebies • Ghana • Joshua Peprah • MNP • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • National Communications Authority • NCA • PAG • Porting Access Ghana

Bulgaria’s telecom watchdog to fine M-tel, Globul, Vivacom

On 03.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Bulgaria’s Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) chairperson, Vesselin Bozhkov has stated that the regulator will fine the country’s three mobile operators – Mobiltel, Globul and Vivacom – a total US$1.07 million, as the companies broke number portability rules.

The regulator is acting on a number of complaints from customers in the past two weeks.

The mobile operators confirmed that they would most probably appeal against the penalties in the Supreme Administrative Court.

According to Bozhkov, in 2010, Mobiltel, Globul and Vivacom were fined a combined US$1.07 million and the 40 complaints lodged by customers would prompt penal provisions for the same amount.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bulgaria • Communications Regulation Commission • CRC • Globul • MNP • Mobile • Mobiltel • number portability rules • Supreme Administrative Court • Vesselin Bozhkov • Vivacom

Airtel Nigeria seeks reduction in interconnect rate

On 03.04.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Bharti Airtel has requested the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to reduce the interconnect charges between operators to enable a further reduction in call tariffs.

Group Director for Corporate Affairs at Bharti Airtel, Narender Gupta stressed that at NGN 9, the nation’s interconnect rate was too high.

According to reports, Gupta also requested NCC to speed up the start of number portability.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Bharti Airtel • Director for Corporate Affairs • interconnect charges • Marender Gupta • MNP • NCC • NGN9 • Niger • Nigeria • Nigerian Communications Commission • Number Portability

O2 Germany to commercially launch LTE on July 1

On 03.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

O2 Germany is reportedly planning to launch LTE services commercially on July 1,2011.

The bandwidth of the services is expected to be between 4 and 16 Mbps. O2 also unveiled a WLAN Hotspot tariff option focusing on business customers with the O2 o tariff. The option will give customers unlimited access to internet via O2′s WLAN network in Germany. O2 will also start offering MNP (mobile number portability) for existing O2 customers who want to transfer to O2 o.

The operator did not provide details about tariffs and speed differentiation.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Germany • LTE • LTE services • MNP • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • O2 • O2 Germany • tariff option • WLAN • WLAN Hotspot