Half of Nigerian MNPs left MTN

Figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have shown 49 per cent of subscribers to have ported since mobile number portability (MNP) was introduced were MTN customers.

The NCC finally introduced MNP in April, allowing subscribers to move between networks for free, while keeping their original number.

The initiative was introduced to increase competition and improve service quality.

Funmi Omogbenigun, general manager of corporate affairs at MTN Nigeria, has however said as the network with the largest number of subscribers, it would not be out-of-place for it to record the highest number of ported subscribers.

Omogbenigun said the published data could be confusing since they were released as percentages instead of actual figures.

“Indications so far are that about 22,000 subscribers across all four networks out of an industry total of about 114 million have exercised their right to port,” she said.

“With regard to the recent publication, the percentage ascribed to MTN (49 per cent) refers to this proportion of subscribers out of the 22,000 that have ported. This is consistent with our market share as the network with largest subscriber base of over 50 million customer

s.”

The next highest percentage of customers porting came from Globacom (23 per cent), followed by Airtel (17 per cent) and then Etisalat (11 per cent).

Omogbenigun added the network is not relenting in improving the quality of its services.

“MTN is constantly expanding capacity driven by our commitment to improve quality, capacity and flexibility. That is why we continue to successfully integrate new sites to address potential capacity requirements as well as coverage,” she said.

“We have been able to bring our national fibre backbone up to over 10,500km nationwide in this year, touching all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. As a result of site build roll-out and fibre deployment, we have network presence in 765 local government areas out of 774 in the country.”