Porting gives MTN the most subscribers in month of 3,246 exchanges
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A total 3,246 mobile phone subscribers ported in May, leading to gains for MTN and Airtel, the two largest network operators.
The latest Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data shows that MTN won 1,731 customers from other networks, Airtel (1,050), 9mobile (314), and Globacom (151).
The NCC defines outward porting as “the number of numbers ported to another service provider’s network from a service provider’s own network.”
It said the movement was achieved through its Mobile Number Portability (MNP) which allows customers to change service providers without changing their number.
But just as operators gained new customers from competitors they also lost to them through outgoing porting.
The biggest loser in May was 9mobile as 2,728 subscribers ported out of its network, followed by Airtel (815), Globacom (297), and MTN (200).
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Performance in April
MTN gained 832 new subscribers in April who ported from Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, according the NCC.
MTN also lost 143 subscribers in a fierce competition for quality service in which Glo gained 112 subscribers and lost 68, Airtel attracted 354, and 9mobile welcomed 131 customers through porting.
9mobile was the biggest loser in April as 888 subscribers ported out of its network while Airtel recorded 249 outgoing porting.
MNP as barometer for customer satisfaction
Nairametrics reports that NCC launched MNP in April 2013 to given telecom subscribers the freedom to move from one network to another for better experience without changing their number.
MNP is designed to reduce subscribers’ complaints about poor quality of service as it gives them the opportunity to change operators at will.
Subscribers port for different reasons, among them quality of service, tariff, and non-availability of service in their area.
The MNP is now the barometer by which operators measure customer satisfaction.
, 9mobile (314), and Globacom (151).){kind=link}