Top Banner

of 16

MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

Apr 14, 2018

Download

Documents

expertmaxwell
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    1/16

    Mobile Number Portability

    in Ghana

    First Year Report

    National Communications Authority

    July 18, 2012

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    2/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    1

    Key Poi nts

    M ob il e N um be r P or ta bi li ty (M NP ), a sy st em w hi ch a ll ow s m ob il e

    s ubs c ribers t o c ha nge from one net work t o a not her wit hout c ha nging a nypa rt of t heir mobile number, wa s la unc hed in G ha na on July 7, 2011.

    I n t h e f i r s t y e a r o f M N P o p e r a t i o n , 3 7 0 , 1 0 7 m o b i l e n u m b e r s h a v e b e e n

    s uc c es sful ly port ed by c us t omers in G ha na .

    T his repres ent s 1.6% of t he t ot a l a c t ive mobile numbers in G ha na .

    E a c h o f t h e m o b i l e n e t w o r k s i n G h a n a h a v e g a i n e d a n d l o s t c u s t o m e r s

    t hrough MNP.

    T he overwhelming ma jorit y of c us t omers who ha ve port ed ha ve rema ined

    o n t h e n e tw o rk s t o w hi c h t h ey p o rt e d, i mp l yi n g s at is f ac ti o n w it h t he

    proc es s a nd t he c hoic e t he y ma de. T he s uc ce ss r at e o f p or ti ng r eq ue st s s ub mi tt ed i n t he f ir st y ea r o f

    o pe ra ti on w as 7 5% , i nc lu di ng t he e ar ly d ay s o f o pe ra ti on w he n t he

    proc es s wa s s t i l l unfa mil ia r.

    A ve ra ge p or ti ng sp ee ds i n t he 7 - 8 m in ut e r an ge h av e n ow b ee n

    achieved.

    T h e c e n t r a l M N P s y s t e m i s w o r k i n g w e l l b u t s o m e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r s s t i l l

    e xp er ie n ce o pe ra ti on al a nd t ec hn ic al p ro bl em s t ha t r em ai n t o b e

    resolved.

    W e a r e s e e i n g t o o m a n y i n s t a n c e s o f m o b i l e n e t w o r k a g e n t s i n t h e f i e l d

    p o r t i n g c u s t o m e r s n u m b e r s w h i l e t h e c u s t o m e r i s b e i n g t o l d t h e y a r e

    just being given a ne w SIM.

    Background

    B et ween 1992 a nd 2008, s ix c ompa nies ha d been l ic ens ed t o provide mobile

    s e rv i ce i n G ha n a. F r om a pp r ox i ma te l y 2 0 05 o n wa rd , g r ow t h i n t h e t o ta l

    n u m b e r o f a c t i v e m o b i l e n u m b e r s h e r e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e m a r k e t h a d

    bec ome c ompet it ive a nd t ha t G ha na ia ns ha d c ome t o view mobile t elephony

    a s a n e c e s s i t y r a t h e r t h a n a l u x u r y . H o w e v e r , i t a l s o b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t a

    s ignif ic a nt s egment of t he c us t omer ba s e wa s reluc t a nt t o t a k e a dva nt a ge of

    t he c hoic es a va i la ble bec a us e t heir phone number would c ha nge when t hey

    open an account at another service provide r. The expense and

    i n co n ve n ie n ce o f i nf o rm i ng a ll t he i r c on t ac ts o f t he i r n e w n u mb e r a n d

    c ha ng in g t he ir s ta ti on er y, b us in es s c ar ds , a nd a dv er ti si ng m es sa ge s

    o ut we ig he d t he ir d es ir e t o c ha ng e n et wo rk s. M an y c us to me rs o pe ne d

    a c c o u n t s a t t w o o r m o r e n e t w o r k s , w h i c h m a y h a v e a l l e v i a t e d s o m e o f t h e

    d i ff i cu lt i es t h ey e n co u nt e re d a t t h ei r o r ig in a l n e tw o rk b u t i n tr od u ce d

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    3/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    2

    c o m p l e x i t i e s s u c h a s c a r r y i n g m u l t i p l e p h o n e s , s w a p p i n g S I M s , a n d h a v i n g

    mult iple numbers .

    T h e f i r s t c o u n t r y t o i n t r o d u c e M o b i l e N u m b e r P o r t a b i l i t y w a s S i n g a p o r e i n

    1 9 97 . M an y o th e r c ou nt r ie s h a ve f ol l ow e d s in c e, w it h i m pl e me n ta ti o nsv a r y i n g i n m a j o r a n d m i n o r d e t a i l . A s o n e w o u l d e x p e c t , a n e x a m i n a t i o n o f

    t heir res ult s provided us eful guida nc e in det ermining whic h dec is ions would

    w o rk w el l f o r t h e c o ns um e r a n d w h ic h w o ul d n o t. I n G ha n a, t he m o bi le

    l i ce n se s i s su e d s in c e 2 0 04 a n d t h e E le c tr on i cs C om m un i ca t io n s A c t 2 0 08

    a n ti ci pa te d t h e i nt r od u ct i on o f M N P a s t h ey c on t ai ne d g e ne r al l a ng u ag e

    requir ing mobile net work s t o c omply i f a nd when it wa s int roduc ed.

    B y la t e 2009, a s t he Aut horit y moved t owa rd a grea t er c ons umer orient a t ion

    a nd w it h v ar io us c om pe ti ti ve m ar ke t f ac to rs su ch a s t he n um be r o f

    o p er at o rs a n d i nt e rc on n ec ti o n f u nc ti o n a n d p r ic in g w el l e s ta bl i sh e d, i t

    b e c a m e o b v i o u s t h a t M N P w a s t h e n e c e s s a r y n e x t s t e p . C o n s u l t a n t s w e r e

    e n g a g e d a n d t h e f i r s t s t a k e h o l d e r w o r k s h o p t o o k p l a c e i n F e b r u a r y , 2 0 1 0 .

    N C A u n d e r s t o o d t h a t a l l t h e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r s h a d t o b e i n v o l v e d i n e v e r y

    s t e p o f t h e p r o c e s s . T h e M N P S t e e r i n g G r o u p a n d i t s s p e c i a l i s t s u b g r o u p s

    w as f or me d i n A pr il , 2 01 0. T o d at e, t he se e nt it ie s h av e h el d o ve r 1 00

    meet ings in prepa ra t ion for, a nd ma na gement of MNP in G ha na .

    In Ma y 2010, t he f irs t vers ion of t he Aut horit y s MNP Polic y wa s relea s ed, t o

    a c t a s a guide for t he St eering G roup s det a i l work . T he pol ic y c a pt ured t he

    k e y p o i n t s t h a t w o u l d e n s u r e M N P s u c c e s s a n d s u p p o r t t h e k e y p r i n c i p l e s

    t ha t port ing s hould be fa s t , inex pens ive, a nd s imple for t he c us t omer:

    T here would be a c ent ra l s ys t em t o c oordinat e port ing. T his s ys t em would

    p a s s t h e p o r t i n g r e q u e s t s b e t w e e n n e t w o r k s a n d w o u l d a l s o m a i n t a i n a

    l is t o f a ll t he p or te d n um be rs a nd t he n et wo rk a t w hi ch t he y a re

    currently located.

    All net work s would k eep a c opy of t ha t l is t of port ed numbers a nd would

    r e f e r t o i t s o t h e y w o u l d k n o w t o w h i c h o t h e r n e t w o r k t h e y s h o u l d s e n d

    c a l ls a nd t ex t mes s a ges .

    C u s t o m e r s w h o w i s h t o c h a n g e n e t w o r k s a n d k e e p t h e i r p h o n e n u m b e r

    on ly ne ed to visit the ne two rk th ey wish to join (kn own as th e

    r e c i p i e n t ) a n d d o n o t h a v e t o c o n t a c t t h e n e t w o r k t h e y w i s h t o l e a v e

    ( t he donor) .

    T he donor ma y not c ont a c t t he c us t omer during t he port ing proc es s , a nd

    is permit t ed t o rejec t t he port ing reques t for a few l imit ed rea s ons , s uc h

    a s t h e n u m b e r n o t b e i n g a c t i v e o n t h e i r n e t w o r k , o r t h e c u s t o m e r b e i n g

    wit h t hem for les s t ha n 30 da ys . U nlik e s ome ot her ma rk et s , debt wa s not

    p er mi tt ed a s a r ea so n f or a d on or t o bl oc k a p or ti ng r eq ue st , a nd

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    4/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    3

    n o t a b l y , a y e a r l a t e r , w e h a v e y e t t o s e e e v e n o n e c o m p l a i n t a b o u t a

    c us t omer us ing port ing t o a void pa ying t heir debt s .

    P o r t i n g s h o u l d h a p p e n q u i c k l y , i n 2 4 h o u r s o r l e s s a f t e r t h e c u s t o m e r s

    request

    I f t he c us t omer wis hes , he ma y port a ga in t o a not her net work or ba c k t ohis origina l net work a ft er 30 da ys .

    T h e c o s t o f e a c h p o r t m u s t b e s u f f i c i e n t l y l o w t h a t e a c h n e t w o r k c a n

    a fford t o c over it for a ny c us t omer wis hing t o join t hem, not jus t for t he

    hea vy us ers who might c ome.

    A n y c u s t o m e r w h o p o r t s h i s n u m b e r m u s t b e p e r m i t t e d t o r e t r i e v e a n y

    b a l a n c e i n t h e i r m o b i l e b a n k i n g a c c o u n t a t t h e d o n o r n e t w o r k , w i t h o u t

    charge.

    I n J u l y 2 0 1 0 , t h e S t e e r i n g G r o u p h a d f i n a l i z e d a n d s e n t o u t t h e R e q u e s t f o r

    P r o p o s a l s f o r t h e c e n t r a l M N P s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r . N i n e c o m p a n i e s s u b m i t t e dp r o p o s a l s , a n d i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 0 , a f t e r a t h o r o u g h e v a l u a t i o n p r o c e s s , t h e

    St eering G roup una nimous ly s elec t ed Port ing Ac c es s G ha na Limit ed ( PXS) ,

    a j o in t v e nt u re o f P o rt in g A cc e ss b . v. o f t h e N e th e rl a nd s a n d C I S G ha na

    Limit ed, t o ins t a l l a nd provide MNP s ervic e in G ha na .

    B y F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 1 , P X S h a d c o m m i s s i o n e d t h e c e n t r a l s y s t e m , a n d b e t w e e n

    Ma rc h a nd June 2011, a l l mobile opera t ors t es t ed t heir s ys t ems wit h PXS a nd

    bet ween ea c h ot her. MNP R egula t ions were s ubmit t ed t o Pa rl ia ment in June

    2011; t he s ys t em wa s rea dy for opera t ion a s of July 1; t he regula t ions c a mei n t o f o r c e o n J u l y 6 , a n d o n J u l y 7 , 2 0 1 1 , M o b i l e N u m b e r P o r t a b i l i t y w a s

    la unc hed for c ons umers in G ha na . T his 17 mont h period is one of t he world s

    s hort es t s pa ns from dec is ion t o MNP la unc h.

    Statistics

    A t t h e e n d o f t h e f i r s t y e a r o f M N P i n G h a n a , J u l y 6 , 2 0 1 2 , 3 7 0 , 1 0 7 m o b i l e

    numbers ha d port ed s uc c es s ful ly. T his repres ent s a pprox ima t ely 1.6% of t he

    t o t a l a c t i v e m o b i l e n u m b e r s i n t h e m a r k e t , a f i g u r e r e a s o n a b l y c o m p a r a b l e

    t o ma rk et s in whic h MNP is c ons idered s uc c es s ful.

    T he A ut ho ri ty d id n ot h av e a ny p ar ti cu la r M NP t ar ge t i n m in d, a s e ac h

    ma rk et is different a nd t here were few ot her ma rk et s in Afr ic a wit h MNP t o

    whic h we c ould c ompa re. O ur genera l ex pec t a t ion wa s t ha t t a k e up would be

    hea vy in t he beginning, a s a nt ic ipa t ory dema nd wa s fulf i l led. T herea ft er, i t

    would slo w t o a reasonably ste ady pace, and subs equent ly grow

    p r op o rt i on a ll y t o t h e m ar ke t . V ar i at io n s c ou l d b e c au s ed b y o p er at or s

    d e c i s i o n s f r o m t i m e t o t i m e t o p r o m o t e M N P a s a m e a n s o f a t t r a c t i n g n e w

    c us t omers , by s ea s ona l fa c t ors , a nd by a ny s ervic e-a ffec t ing dis rupt ions .

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    5/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    4

    C ha rt 1 below s hows t he number of c omplet ed, a bort ed ( uns uc c es s ful) , a nd

    bloc k ed port ing reques t s on a mont h-by-mont h ba s is .

    C h a r t 1 M o n t h b y M o n t h P o r t i n g R e q u e s t s

    C h a r t 2 b e l o w s h o w s e a c h r e q u e s t c a t e g o r y s c u m u l a t i v e n u m b e r s t h r o u g h

    t he pa s t yea r.

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    6/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    5

    C h a r t 2 C u m u l a t i v e P o r t i n g R e q u e s t s

    T he t ot a l number of s uc c es s ful port s whic h ha ve t a k en pla c e in t he f irs t yea rof opera t ion ha s reduc ed t he per-port c os t by nea rly 70%. T his eff ic ienc y of

    s c a l e h a s v a l i d a t e d t h e m o b i l e n e t w o r k s d e c i s i o n s n o t t o p a s s t h e p o r t i n g

    c os t on t o t he port ing c us t omer.

    It is import a nt t o remember t ha t a l l mobile net work s a re a c t ive pa rt ic ipa nt s

    i n t h e M N P p r oc es s. C u st om e rs h a ve p o rt e d n u mb e rs t o a n d f ro m e a ch

    n et wo rk . T ab le 1 b el ow s ho ws t he p or ts t o, p or ts f ro m, n et p or ts , a nd

    i m p a c t o n e a c h o p e r a t o r s s u b s c r i b e r b a s e a t t h e e n d o f t h e f i r s t y e a r o f

    operation:

    A ir te l Ex p r es s o Gl o MT N Ti g o V o d a f o n e

    Po r t ed In 4 4 , 7 4 2 30 4 7, 9 84 6 6 , 32 0 1 4 7 ,7 0 9 1 0 3 , 2 4 3

    Po r t ed Ou t 3 8 , 2 4 4 72 2 42 5 19 1 ,6 81 79 , 4 7 9 59 , 75 1

    Net G a i n / ( Lo ss) 6 , 4 9 8 ( 4 1 8 ) 7 , 5 5 9 ( 1 2 5 , 3 6 1 ) 68 , 2 3 0 43 , 49 2

    % o f B as e 0 . 24 % -0 .1 8 % 0 .7 8 % -1 .1 3 % 1 . 82 % 1. 5 6%

    T a b l e 1 T o t a l C o m p l e t e d P o r t s b y N e t w o r k

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    7/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    6

    O ne s hould not dra w uns upport a ble c onc lus ions from t he a bove da t a . T here

    is a c orrela t ion bet ween ma rk et s ha re a nd port s out from a net work s imply

    bec a us e a c us t omer c a n only port from t he net work t hey a re pres ent ly on; a

    h ig h n um be r o f p or ts o ut m ay n ot n ec es sa ri ly p oi nt t o a ny p ar ti cu la r

    p ro bl em a t t ha t n et wo rk . T he n et i mp act o n e ac h n et wo rk s ho ul d b ec on si d er e d i n t h e c o nt e xt o f t h at n e tw o rk s s i ze . I t i s a l so p o ss ib l e t h at

    c u st o m er s w h o p o r t t h e i r n u m be r s a r e a b o ve - a ve r a ge u s e rs , w h ic h w o ul d

    e n ha nc e t he f i na n ci a l b e ne f it o f p o rt i ng f o r t h e n e tw or k s r e ce i vi n g s uc h

    c us to m er s . A l so k e ep i n m in d t h at G lo l au n ch e d t he i r s er v ic e n e ar l y 1 0

    m o nt h s a ft e r M N P b e ga n i n G ha n a, h e nc e t h ei r l o we r n u mb e rs . T he n e t

    p o r t i n g f o r e a c h m o b i l e o p e r a t o r i s n o t y e t l a r g e e n o u g h t o h a v e b e e n t h e

    s o l e c a u se o f a n y c h a ng e s i n m a r ke t p la c e r a n k w h i ch t o o k p l a c e i n t h e p a s t

    yea r.

    O f t he t ot al c om pl et ed p or ti ng r eq ue st s t o d at e, a pp ro xi ma te ly 8 .3 %

    r e pr es e nt n u mb e rs w hi c h p o rt e d m or e t h an o n ce . O n t h e a ve r ag e , t ho se

    c us to m er s w ai te d 8 9 d ay s b e tw ee n t h ei r f ir s t a nd s e co n d p o rt s. 9 3 % o f

    t hos e c us t omers port ed ba c k t o t heir origina l net work while 7% port ed t o a

    t hird net work . Les s t ha n 2% of t he c us t omers who port ed mult iple t imes did

    s o t hree t imes or more. We infer from t his informa t ion t ha t mos t c us t omers

    who port ed t heir numbers were genera l ly s a t is f ied wit h t heir dec is ion.

    We a ls o point out t ha t t he number of s uc c es s ful port s is not t he only c r it eria

    on whic h MNP s uc c es s is judged. E a c h mobile opera t or ha s ma de c ha nges in

    t heir opera t ions in res pons e t o t he enha nc ed c ompet it ion MNP enc oura ges ,

    whet her t o a t t ra c t new c us t omers or t o ret a in t heir c urrent c us t omers . It is

    n o t p r a c t i c a l , h o w e v e r , t o d e t e r m i n e w i t h c e r t a i n t y t o w h a t e x t e n t t h e s e

    c ha nges a re a t t r ibut a ble s olely t o t he MNP environment .

    Performance

    B efore ent ering int o a dis c us s ion of port ing performa nc e, it wi l l be us eful t o

    give a brief des c ription of t he port ing proc es s a s implement ed in G ha na :

    1 . T h e cu s to m e r v is i t s an a g e nt o r s h op o f t h e re c i pi e n t ne t w or k w it h h i s

    p h o n e a n d I D c a r d ; r e v i e w s t h e p o r t i n g p r o c e s s w i t h t h e a g e n t ; s i g n s

    t h e p o r t i n g r e q u e s t f o r m ; a n d s e n d s a f r e e v a l i d a t i o n S M S t o t h e P X S

    s hort c ode.

    2 . T h e a ge n t , th o u gh t h e r e ci p i en t n e tw o r k s e q ui p m en t , su b m it s a p o rt i n g

    reques t t o PXS.

    3 . N ot e: i f t h e r e qu es t i s s ub mi tt ed b ut t he v al id at io n S M S i s n ot s en t

    wit hin 2 da ys , t he reques t wil l be c a nc el led, or a borted by t he s ys t em.

    Co nv er se ly , i f t he v al id at io n S MS i s s en t b ut t he r eq ue st i s n ot

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    8/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    7

    s u b m i t t e d w i t h i n 2 d a y s , t h e S M S w i l l b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e s y s t e m . I n

    e i t h e r c a s e , P X S s e n d s a n S M S t o t h e c u s t o m e r i n f o r m i n g t h e m t h a t

    t heir reques t c ould not be proc es sed.

    4 . A s s oo n a s t he r e q u es t m at c he s w i th t h e v al i d at i on S M S i n t he s y st e m ,

    PXS c hec k s t he reques t t o ens ure t ha t t he number ha s not a lrea dy beenp o r te d w i th i n t h e p r e vi o u s 3 0 d a y s, a n d t h a t t h e r e i s n o o t he r p e n d i n g

    reques t t o port t ha t number. T hen PXS pa s s es a n a ut horis a t ion reques t

    ( A RE Q ) t o t he d on or n et wo rk a nd s en ds a nd S MS i nf or mi ng t he

    c us t omer t ha t t heir reques t is being proc es s ed.

    5 . U po n r e ce iv in g t h e A RE Q, t he d on or n et wo rk c he c ks t he n um be r t o

    e n s u r e t h a t i t i s a n a c t i v e a c c o u n t w h i c h h a s b e e n o p e n f o r a t l e a s t 3 0

    d a y s, a n d t h a t i t i s n o t r e l a te d t o a n y f r a u d o r t h e f t r e p o r t. I f i t p a s se s

    t h es e t e st s, t h e d o no r s e nd s b a ck t o P X S a n a ut h or i sa ti o n r e sp o ns e

    ( AU T H) a pproving t he reques t .

    6 . No te : If fo r any o f th e f ew p er mitte d re ason s t he re qu est is no t

    a pproved, t he AU T H mes s a ge from t he donor indic a t es rejec t ion of t he

    reques t , a nd PXS not if ies t he rec ipient t ha t t he reques t is bloc k ed.

    7 . U po n r e ce i vi n g a n A UT H f r om t h e d o n or t h a t t he r e q ue st i s a p p ro v ed ,

    t h e r e c i p i e n t s e n d s a n i n s t r u c t i o n r e q u e s t ( I R E Q ) t o c o m m e n c e t h e

    port . I t t hen a c t iva t es t he c us t omer s new a c c ount a nd SIM.

    8 . N o t e: I f t h e re c i pi e n t d oe s n o t se n d t he I R EQ w i th i n 4 8 ho u r s af t e r th e

    AU T H is s ent by t he donor, PXS wil l a bort t he port ing reques t .

    9 . P X S se n d s t h e I RE Q t o th e d o no r a nd a t t he s a me t i me , s e nd s a n SM S t o

    t h e c us to m er n o ti f yi n g t he m t o c ha n ge t h ei r S I M. A t t hi s p o in t t he

    port ing reques t wil l be c omplet ed wit hin 15 minut es .

    1 0 . T h e d o n o r c l o se s t h e c u st o m er s a c c o un t , d e a c ti v a te s h i s o l d S I M, a n d

    s ends a n ins t ruc t ion res pons e ( IR E S) t o PXS c onfirming it ha s done s o.

    1 1 . P X S n o w c on s id e rs t h e p o r ti n g r e q ue st t o b e c om p le t ed , a nd i t a d d s

    t ha t c us t omer s number t o t he c ent ra l l is t of port ed numbers in G ha na .

    P X S t h e n s e n ds a m e s sa g e t o A L L n e t w o rk s i n G h an a i n f o r m in g t h e m o f

    t his new port , s o t ha t ea c h of t hem wil l k now t hey s hould s end c a l ls a nd

    SM S f or that nu mbe r to the recip ie nt ne twor k rath er th an the

    customers original network.

    T h e M N P R e g u l at i o ns r e q ui r e t h a t t h e r e ci p i en t s u b mi t a p o r ti n g r e q u e s t

    w it h in 1 2 h o ur s a f te r t he c us to me r s a p pl i ca t io n ; t h at t h e d o no r s h ou l d

    r e s p o n d w i t h t h e i r A U T H w i t h i n 4 h o u r s a f t e r r e c e i p t o f t h e A R E Q f r o m t h e

    d o n o r ; a n d a s i s a l s o m e n t i o n e d i n t h e M N P p o l i c y , t h a t t h e e n t i r e p r o c e s s

    s hould be c omplet ed in les s t ha n 24 hours . However, from la unc h, port ing in

    G h an a h a s b e e n f a r f a s t e r t h a n 2 4 h o ur s , w h i c h c o m p a re s f a v or a b ly w i th

    mos t ot her c ount ries . E ven in t he E uropea n U nion, not a l l c ount ries ha ve yet

    r ed uc ed t he ir p or ti ng t im es f ro m 7 d ay s t o 1 d ay a s r eq ui re d b y E U

    regulation.

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    9/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    8

    H o w ev e r , t h e M N P S t e e r in g G r o u p w a s m a nd a t ed b y t h e M N P p o l i cy t o f i n d

    w a y s t o r e d u c e t h e t o t a l p o r t i n g t i m e i n G h a n a . T h e g o a l i s t o e n s u r e t h a t

    t he proc es s is c omplet ed wit hin t he period of t ime t ha t t he port ing c us t omer

    is in t he s hop or wit h t he a gent of t he rec ipient net work . T his would help t oa vo id a ny u nce rt ai nt y o n t he p ar t o f t he cu st om er , i mp ro ve s t he ir

    s a ti s f ac t io n , a n d r e d u ce s t h e w o r kl o a d o n e a ch n e t wo r k s c u st o me r c a re

    staff.

    I n J u l y 2 0 1 1 , t h e f i r s t m o n t h o f o p e r a t i o n , t h e a v e r a g e t i m e t o c o m p l e t e a

    port wa s 5 hours , 21 minut es . Mont h by mont h, t he a vera ge t ime reduc ed t o

    2 hours , 37 minut es in Apri l , 2012.

    W he n M NP b eg an i n G ha na , s om e o pe ra to rs h ad s ys te ms i n p la ce t ha t

    h a n dl e d t h e p r o ce s s c o m mu n i ca t i on w i t h P X S a u t om a ti c a ll y . O t he r s c o u ld

    n o t b e r e ad y o n t im e , a n d u s ed l i ve p e rs on n el t o m an u al ly p ro c es s e a ch

    p o r t i n g r e q u e s t t h r o u g h a n o n l i n e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h P X S . A t t h e t i m e , N C A

    dec ided it wa s bet t er t o la unc h MNP in t he ma rk et a s s oon a s pos s ible ra t her

    t ha n t o wa it for t hos e net work s whos e s ys t ems ha d not yet a ut oma t ed.

    I n t h e f i r s t q u a r t e r o f 2 0 1 2 , i t b e c a m e c l e a r f r o m e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e d a t a

    t h a t p r o pe r l y- o p er a t in g a u to m a te d s y st e m s a t e a ch m o b il e n e t wo r k c o u ld

    p r od u ce m u ch f as te r p o rt in g t i me s . T h e S t ee ri n g G r ou p a d op te d i n A p ri l

    2 0 1 2 p e r f o r m a n c e g o a l s s p e c i f y i n g h o w q u i c k l y e a c h n e t w o r k s h o u l d s e n d

    t h e ir v a r io u s r e s p o n se s t o t h e s y s t e m . B y a d d re s s in g e a c h t y p e o f r e sp o n se

    individua l ly, t he t ot a l a vera ge t ime is reduc ed. At t he s a me t ime, NC A ma de

    c l e a r t h a t a l l o p e r a t o r s m u s t c o m p l e t e t h e i r t r a n s i t i o n t o a u t o m a t e d p o r t

    order proc es s ing. Da t a wa s ga t hered week ly t o mea s ure progres s t owa rd t he

    performa nc e goa l.

    T h e g oa l s w e re s et b y o b se r vi n g t h e p e rf o rm an ce o f p r op e rl y o p er a ti ng

    s y st e m s i n r e s pe c t o f t h e t h r e e m a i n s t e p s i n e a c h p o r t in g r e q u e s t, a n d a r e

    des c ribed a s fol lows :

    A f t e r t h e A R E Q i s s e n t , t h e d o n o r m u s t s e n d A U T H w i t h i n 1 5 m i n u t e s a t

    lea s t 90% of t he t ime a nd wit hin 30 minut es a t lea s t 95% of t he t ime

    Aft er t he AU T H is s ent , t he rec ipient mus t s end IR E Q wit hin 15 minut es a t

    lea s t 90% of t he t ime a nd wit hin 30 minut es a t lea s t 95% of t he t ime

    Aft er t he IR E Q is s ent , t he donor mus t s end t he IR E S wit hin 15 minut es a t

    l e as t 9 0 % o f t h e t im e ( No t e t h at a f te r 1 5 m in u te s , P X S a ut o ma ti ca l ly

    s ends t he IR E S i f t he donor ha s not done s o)

    I f a l l t h e s e g o a l s a r e m e t , t h e n s t a t i s t i c a l l y , o n e w o u l d e x p e c t 8 1 % o f a l lp o r t s t o b e c o n c l u d e d w i t h i n 4 5 m i n u t e s a f t e r b e i n g s u b m i t t e d t o P X S a n d

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    10/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    9

    m a t c h e d w i t h t h e v a l i d a t i o n S M S . H o w e v e r , w e h a v e s e e n t h a t a u t o m a t e d

    s ys t ems wil l genera l ly s end t heir res pons es wit hin 1 t o 7 minut es , lea ding us

    t o bel ieve t ha t even s hort er t ypic a l port ing t imes c ould be a c hieved t hrough

    t h i s i n i t i a t i v e . A f u r t h e r b e n e f i t t o c u s t o m e r s a n d t h e m a r k e t i n g e n e r a l i s

    t he c ons is t enc y t ha t would be a c hieved; t he a mount of t ime required t o portwould not va ry s ignif ica nt ly wit h t he net work s involved.

    As t he mobile opera t ors ma de t hen nec es s a ry a djus t ment s , a vera ge port ing

    t i m es d r o p p e d t o 1 h o u r, 3 5 m i n ut e s i n M a y 2 0 1 2 a n d 1 h o u r, 2 4 m i n ut e s i n

    J u n e 2 0 1 2 . H o w e v e r , t h e m o s t d r a m a t i c o v e r a l l i m p r o v e m e n t w a s a c h i e v e d

    in t he f irs t ha lf of July 2012, a s t he rema ining few opera t ors c omplet ed t heir

    a ut oma t ion ins t a l la t ions a nd a djus t ment s . T he mos t rec ent da t a a va i la ble a t

    t he t ime t his report wa s f ina l ized indic a t ed t ha t a l l opera t ors ha d c omplied

    wit h t he performa nc e goa ls , a nd t ha t a vera ge p o rt i ng t i m es h a d d ro p p ed t o

    b et w een 7 a n d 8 m i n u t es . N e a r l y h a l f o f t h e r e q u e s t s w e r e c o m p l e t e d i n 5

    minut es or les s . T herefore, provided t ha t a l l opera t ors c ont inue t o meet t he

    p e r fo r m an c e g o a ls a n d s u f fe r n o s e r vi c e d i s ru p t io n s , G h a n a h a s a c h ie v e d

    on t he s pot mobile number port ing.

    Anot her import a nt is s ue is t he c orrec t rout ing of c a l ls a nd t ex t mes s a ges t o

    n um be rs w hi ch h av e p or te d. A s d es cr ib ed e ar li er i n t hi s r ep or t, e ac h

    n e t w o r k m a i n t a i n s a l i s t o f p o r t e d n u m b e r s a n d t h e n e t w o r k a t w h i c h t h e y

    a re c urrent ly loc a t ed. When a nyone in G ha na pla c es a phone c a l l or s ends a

    t ex t mes s a ge, t heir net work wil l f irs t c hec k in t heir l is t of port ed numbers . I f

    t h e d e s t i n a t i o n p h o n e n u m b e r i s o n t h a t l i s t , t h e n t h e c a l l o r t e x t w i l l b e

    r o u t e d t o t h e p o r t e d n u m b e r s c u r r e n t n e t w o r k a s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e l i s t . I f

    t he des t ina t ion phone number is not on t ha t l is t , t hen t he net work wil l rout e

    t he c a l l t o t he net work a t whic h t ha t number na t ura lly belongs .

    P X S m ai nt a in s t h e c e nt ra l l i st o f p o rt e d n u mb e rs a n d i t s e nd s i mm e di a te

    m es sa ge s t o a ll n et wo rk s i n G ha na w he ne ve r a n um be r i s a dd ed t o o r

    r e m o v e d f r o m t h a t l i s t o r w h e n t h e c u r r e n t n e t w o r k o f a p o r t e d n u m b e r

    c ha nges . I f a ny net work s l is t is not ident ic a l t o t he c ent ra l l is t , c us t omers of t ha t net work wil l not be a ble t o c a l l or t ex t t o numbers whic h a re c a ught by

    t h e d i s c r e p a n c i e s i n t h e n e t w o r k s l i s t . T h i s s y s t e m i s q u i t e t y p i c a l o f M N P

    s ys t ems worldwide.

    U pon f inding in Dec ember 2011 t ha t c ert a in net work s were ha ving problems

    ma int a ining t heir loc a l port ed number l is t , NC A is s ued a direc t ive t ha t ea c h

    net work mus t rec onc i le t heir loc a l l is t wit h t he c ent ra l l is t on a week ly ba s is

    a n d r e p o r t t h e r e s u l t s t o t h e A u t h o r i t y . F o r t h e m o s t p a r t , t h e c h a l l e n g e s

    h av e b ee n i so la te d a nd r es ol ve d. A t t hi s t im e, o nl y o ne n et wo rk h as ap e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m i n t h a t t h e i r s y s t e m f a i l s t o i n c o r p o r a t e t h e l i s t u p d a t e

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    11/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    10

    m e ss ag e s f r om P X S i n to t he i r l o ca l p o rt e d n u mb e r l i st . N C A c on t in u es t o

    pres s t ha t net work t o work wit h it s vendors t o f ind a n ex pedit ed s olut ion.

    P o r ti n g r e q ue s t s u c ce s s r a te r e p re s e nt s a n o th e r c h al l e ng e . C h ar t 3 b e l ow

    s hows t he his t ory of t he s uc c es s ful, bloc k ed, a nd a bort ed ra t es s inc e la unc h:

    C h a r t 3 A b o r t e d , C o m p l e t e d , B l o c k e d R e q u e s t s N o r m a l i z e d t o 1 0 0 %

    T he o v er al l s u cc e ss r at e o f r e qu e st s t o d at e i s 7 5 .2 % , a n d m o st r e ce n tl y

    7 8 . 4% i n J u n e 2 0 1 2 . I t h a s b e e n a s h i g h a s 8 3 . 1 % ( A p r i l 2 0 1 2 ). N C A s v i e w i s

    t ha t t he c omplet ion ra t e s hould a pproa c h 90% a s c ons umers bec ome a wa re

    o f t h e p r o c e s s a n d t h e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r s r e f i n e t h e i r s y s t e m s a n d e d u c a t et heir f ield opera t ives .

    Almos t a l l bloc k ed port s were rejec t ed for t he rea s on t ha t t he a c c ount s were

    n o t a t l e a s t 3 0 d a y s o l d w h e n t h e p o r t i n g r e q u e s t w a s r e c e i v e d . I n t h e f i r s t

    f e w m o n t hs o f o p er a ti o n m o r e p o rt s w e re b lo c ke d o n t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e

    a c c o u n t w a s n o t a c t i v e , b u t a m o r e d e t a i l e d d e f i n i t i o n o f w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s

    a n ina c t ive a c c ount la rgely res olved t his is s ue. R ec ent ly, a s oft wa re upda t e

    a t one net work c a us ed t hem t o bloc k s ome reques t s improperly, but ea c h of

    t hes e wa s ident if ied a nd res ubmitt ed for a pprova l.

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    12/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    11

    A b o r t e d p o r t s a r e a m o r e p e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m . 9 5 % o f a b o r t s a r e d u e t o n o

    v a l i d a t i o n S M S b e i n g r e c e i v e d w i t h i n t h e 2 d a y s b e f o r e a n d a f t e r a p o r t i n g

    reques t is s ubmit t ed. T he us ua l c a us es ha ve been fa i lure of t he f ield a gent s

    t o e n su r e t ha t t he v al id a ti on S M S i s s e nt f r om t he c us to m er s p h on e , o r

    f a i l u r e o f t h e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r t o s u b m i t t h e p o r t i n g r e q u e s t w i t h i n 2 d a y sa f t er t h e S M S w a s s e n t , t h u s c a u s in g t h e S M S i t s e lf t o e x p i r e . H o w e v er , t h e

    la rge inc rea s e in a bort ed reques t s in November 2011 wa s due t o a t ec hnic a l

    p ro bl em a t o ne n e tw or k w hi ch b eg an i n l at e O ct ob er , c au si ng a l ar ge

    n u m be r o f v a li d a ti o n f r o m t h e ir c u st o m e rs t o P X S t o b e l o st . W h e n i t w a s

    a pp ar en t t he p ro bl em w ou ld p er si st f or s om e t im e, N CA d ir ec te d o n

    November 16, 2011 a t empora ry SMS wa iver proc edure whic h wa s s us pended

    on Ja nua ry 26, 2012, a ft er t ec hnic a l t es t s indic a t ed t ha t net work ha d s olved

    it s SMS problem, a nd wa s c a nc el led on Februa ry 10, 2012 when it wa s c lea r

    t he a bort ra t e wa s no longer being impa c t ed.

    A s C h a r t 3 s h ow s , t h e a b o rt r a t e w a s h i g h d u r i n g F e b r ua r y a n d M a r ch 2 0 1 2 .

    T hi s w as ca us ed , f or l ac k o f a b et te r d es cr ip ti on , b y o ne n et wo rk s

    ent hus ia s m for t he MNP proc es s out s t r ipping it s res ourc es . At t he t ime, a l l

    o f t h a t n e t w o rk s p o r t o r d er i n g r e s p o n se s w e r e g e n e r a te d m a nu a l ly , a n d

    m an y r e qu e st s a bo r te d b e ca u se t he y w er e n o t e n te re d i n to t he s ys te m

    b e f o r e t h e v a l i d a t i o n S M S h a d a b o r t e d , o r b e c a u s e n o b o d y t h e r e s e n t t h e

    I R E Q w i t h i n 4 8 h o u r s a f t e r t h e d o n o r h a d s e n t i t s a u t h o r i s a t i o n r e s p o n s e .

    T hi s p ro bl em r es ol ve d w he n t ha t n et wo rk i mp le me nt ed a nd p ro pe rl y

    c onfigured it s a ut oma t ion s ys t em in la t e Ma rc h 2012.

    T here wil l a lwa ys be va l ida t ion SMS a bort s t o s ome ex t ent , due t o va ria t ions

    i n t h e c us to m er - ag e nt i n te r ac t io n . H o we v er , i n N C A s v i ew , t h er e i s n o

    ex c us e for a ny a bort s t o t a k e pla c e when t he rec ipient net work ha s fa i led t o

    s e n d t h e I R E Q w i t h i n 4 8 h o u r s a f t e r t h e A U T H i s s e n t b y t h e d o n o r . E v e n i f

    a n a u t o m a t e d s y s t e m m i s s e s a r e s p o n s e , e a c h n e t w o r k i s r e q u i r e d t o h a v e

    h u m an s c h e ck i ng t h e s y s t e m m a n u a ll y a f e w t i m e s e a c h d a y t o c a t ch t h i ng s

    t ha t t heir a ut oma t ed s ys t ems ( or t hos e of t he ot her net work s involved) ha ve

    m i s s e d . E a c h t i m e a r e q u e s t a b o r t s d u e t o l a c k o f I R E Q , i t m e a n s t h a t ac us t omer t rying t o join a net work wa s t hwa rt ed by s omeone a t t ha t net work

    not doing t heir job di l igent ly for t wo ful l da ys .

    Consumer Issues

    Any cust omer who wishes to chan ge networks for any re ason

    dis s a t is fa c t ion wit h pric es or qua l it y, a t t ra c t ive offers a t a not her net work ,

    o r s i m p l e c u r i o s i t y c a n d o s o w i t h o u t c h a n g i n g t h e i r p h o n e n u m b e r . A l l

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    13/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    12

    t h a t i s r e q u i r e d i s t o b r i n g I D a n d p h o n e t o a s h o p o r a g e n t o f t h e n e t w o r k

    he/s he wis hes t o join.

    I t i s i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e c u s t o m e r t o r e a d c a r e f u l l y t h e p o r t i n g r e q u e s t f o r m

    before s igning. NC A ha s ex a mined a nd a pproved port ing reques t forms fromea c h net work , a nd ha s ens ured t ha t a l l t he nec es s a ry informa t ion is t here.

    It is vit a l for t he c us t omer t o unders t a nd t ha t when he or s he a grees t o port

    t h e ir n u m be r , t h e y a r e l e a v i ng t h e ir o l d n e t w o r k e n t i re l y a n d j o i ni n g a n e w

    n e t w o r k . T h e o l d S I M w i l l s t o p w o r k i n g . A n y c r e d i t l e f t i n t h e o l d a c c o u n t

    wil l be los t . Any phone numbers s t ored on t he old SIM s hould be c opied int o

    t he phone s o t hey wil l not be los t .

    I f a c u s t o m e r h a s p r o b l e m s d u r i n g o r a f t e r t h e p o r t i n g p r o c e s s , a s s i s t a n c e

    a nd informa t ion s hould be provided by t he rec ipient net work t he opera t or

    h e h a s j o i n e d o r i s t r y i n g t o j o i n . F a i l i n g t h a t , N C A c a n b e c o n t a c t e d a s

    follows:

    Web s it e: ht t p://www.nc a .org.gh/40/125/Ma ke-a -C omplaint .ht ml

    E ma il : co mp la in ts @n ca .o rg .g h

    Phone: 030 701 1419

    F a ce b o o k: M N P G h an a ( g r ou p p a g e)

    W e h a v e n o t e d i n t h e p a s t y e a r t h a t m o s t p r o b l e m s i n t h e p o r t i n g p r o c e s s

    a r e c a u se d b y m i s st e p s a t t h e r e ci p i en t n e t wo r k . C u s t o me r s e x p er i e nc i n g

    d i f f i c u l t i e s s h o u l d n o t a s s u m e t h e y w e r e c a u s e d b y t h e i r c u r r e n t n e t w o r k

    obs t ruct ing t he proc es s .

    Very s oon a ft er MNP wa s la unc hed, we bega n rec eiving report s of a gent s in

    t he f ie ld m is le ad in g cu st om er s i nt o p or ti ng w he n t ha t w as n ot t he

    c u s t o m e r s a c t u a l i n t e n t . I n s o m e c a s e s , a c u s t o m e r s n u m b e r w a s p o r t e d

    w h e n a l l t h e y h a d r e q u e s t e d w a s t o g e t a n e w n u m b e r o n a n o t h e r n e t w o r k

    w i t h t h e s a m e l a st 7 d i g it s a s t h e y h a d o n t h e i r c u rr e n t n e t w or k , a p r a ct i ces o m e c a l l p r e f i x i n g . T h a t i s n o t p o r t i n g - a p r o c e s s w h i c h r a t h e r b r i n g s

    your ent ire mobile number t o a new net work .

    I n i t i a l l y w e b e l i e v e d t h e s e w e r e b i r t h i n g p a i n s w h i c h w o u l d d i m i n i s h a s

    e v e r y o n e b e c a m e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e p r o c e s s . H o w e v e r , w e f i n d t o d a y

    t h a t e v e n a f t e r o n e y e a r , v a r i o u s t y p e s o f m i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n ( a t b e s t ) o r

    d e c e p t i o n ( a t w o r s e ) a r e t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e f i e l d , p r i m a r i l y b y a g e n t s w h o

    a r e a u t h o r i z e d b y t h e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r s t o s e l l t h e i r p r o d u c t s a n d s e r v i c e s .

    Ma ny people t end t o rely upon verba l repres ent a t ions a nd do not even rea dt he doc ument t hey a re s igning. Agent s ha ve been t el l ing people who ha ve no

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    14/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    13

    int ent ion t o port t ha t t hey a re get t ing a new free SIM a nd bot h t heir old a nd

    new SIM wil l c ont inue t o work . It is a ppa rent t ha t wha t we fa c e now is not a

    f am il ia ri za ti on p ro ce ss , b ut r at he r s om e a ge nt s w it h a n a bu nd an ce o f

    s a les ma ns hip a nd a s hort a ge of et hic s .

    T h e r e i s a p r o c e d u r e f o r r e m e d y i n g s u c h f r a u d u l e n t p o r t s q u i c k l y , a n d t h e

    n et wo rk s h av e g en er al ly c oo pe ra te d w el l i n r es ol vi ng s uc h m at te rs a t

    c us to me r s r eq ue st . T he t ot al n um be r o f s uc h r es ol ut io ns i s q ui te l ow

    compared to the overal l number of porting requests, but any

    mis repres ent a t ion is s t i l l t oo muc h. We need prevent ion, not jus t c ure a ft er

    t he fa c t .

    N C A h a s a s k e d t h e n e t w o r k s t o c a l l t h e i r a g e n t s t o o r d e r , b u t w e h a v e n o t

    yet s een s uff ic ient progres s . We ha ve s ugges t ed t ha t t he T elec oms C ha mber

    e s t ab l i sh a s y st e m t o s h ar e i n f or m at i o n b e t w e e n o p e r a t o rs a b ou t a g e nt s

    w h o h a v e m i s l e d c u s t o m e r s , s o t h a t t h e y c a n b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e s y s t e m .

    We unders t a nd t ha t t he C ha mber members s upport t his idea in princ iple but

    ha ve not yet t a k en a ny s t eps t owa rd implement a t ion.

    I t m ay b e l ef t t o N CA t o a ct d ec is iv el y t o r es ol ve t hi s p ro bl em i f t he

    opera t ors c a nnot or wil l not do s o. We ma y c ha nge t he s pec if ic a t ions for t he

    p o r t i n g r e q u e s t f o r m s t o i n c l u d e w a r n i n g l a n g u a g e i n l a r g e f o n t s . W e m a y

    require opera t ors t o provide NC A c opies of s igned port ing reques t forms for

    every reques t in whic h fra ud is a l leged. We ma y c a l l c us t omers , a gent s , a nd

    t heir s upervis ors for hea rings on ea c h c a s e. In t he end, we ma y be forc ed t o

    i ss ue s an ct io n s a g ai n st o p er at or s w ho a ll o w t h is s i tu a ti o n t o p e rs is t a t

    una c c ept a ble levels . T he int egrity of t he proc es s is a t s t a k e.

    Looking Forward

    MNP is a perma nent pa rt of t he t elec oms la nds c a pe in G ha na . C ha rt 4 below

    s h o w s h o w M N P h a s g r o w n i n t h e p a s t y e a r , a n d h o w i t m i g h t g r o w b a s e d

    upon a s imple a rit hmet ic predic t ion met hod:

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    15/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    14

    C h a r t 4 C o m p l e t e d R e q u e s t s s i n c e L a u n c h a n d P r e d i c t io n t h r o u g h 2 0 1 2

    T h i s d o e s n o t r e p r e s e n t a n N C A p r e d i c t i o n o r e x p e c t a t i o n . T h e t a k e u p o f

    M NP i s a lw ay s s ub je ct t o t he w il l o f t he c on su me r r es po nd in g t o b ot h

    pos it ive a nd nega t ive c ompet it ive fa c t ors . T he mos t import a nt point t o t a k e

    a w a y i s t h a t t h e a b i l i t y t o c h a n g e n e t w o r k s w i t h o u t c h a n g i n g n u m b e r s i s a

    very s ignif ica nt c ons umer empowerment .

    N C A u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t M N P i s n o t a s u b s t i t u t e f o r t h e o t h e r r e g u l a t o r y a n d

    enforc ement func t ions it performs in t he in t he indus t ry. MNP requires new

    modes of t hink ing a nd opera t ion a c ros s t he indus t ry, a s ea c h port ing reques t

    involves a c us t omer, a rec ipient net work , a donor net work , a c ent ra l s ervic e

    provider, a nd a l l t he ot her net work s whic h mus t rout e t ra ff ic c orrec t ly a ft er

    t h e p o r t i s c o m p l e t e d . T h i s i s f a r m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n a s i m p l e i n t e r a c t i o n

    bet ween one net work a nd one of it s c us t omers .

    W h i le P X S o p e ra t e s t h e c e n tr a l s y s te m a n d h a s c o n tr a ct u al r e s po n s ib i l it i e s

    t o t h e m o b i l e n e t w o r k s , i t l a c k s a n y r e g u l a t o r y a u t h o r i t y . I t t h e r e f o r e f a l l s

    t o N CA t o r e ma in e n ga ge d i n m o ni t or i ng a n d m e nt o ri n g M N P s er vi c e i n

    G ha na , a s t he o nl y e nt it y t ha t h as e nf or ce me nt a ut ho ri ty o ve r a ll t he

    p ar ti ci pa nt s, a nd i t d oe s s o w it h t he c on su me r a t t he f or ef ro nt o f i ts

    thoughts.

  • 7/30/2019 MNP in Ghana First Year Report 120718

    16/16

    Mobile Number Portability in Ghana - First Year Report - July 18, 2012

    15

    Acknowledgments

    I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o r e c o g n i z e t h e r o l e t h a t t h e m o b i l e o p e r a t o r s h a v e p l a y e din t his projec t . T he int roduc t ion of MNP impa c t s a lmos t every depa rt ment in

    a mobile c ompa ny. NC A a pprec ia t es t his a nd a c k nowledges t he c ont ribut ions

    of t hos e c ompa nies a nd t heir ma ny c ommerc ia l , lega l, regula t ory, t ec hnic a l ,

    p r o j e c t p l a n n i n g , a n d I T p e r s o n n e l w h o h a v e m a d e i t t h e s u c c e s s i t i s i n

    Ghana.

    S p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n m u s t b e g i v e n t o t h e M N P H e l p D e s k p e r s o n n e l a t t h e

    mobile net work s a nd PXS. It is on t heir des k s a nd in t heir ema il inbox es t ha t

    e v er y M N P c ha l le n ge l an d s, a nd t he y w o rk d il i ge n tl y a nd c he e rf u ll y w it h

    t heir c ount erpa rts a t t he o t he r c om pa n ie s a nd w it h t h ei r o w n c us to me r

    s e r vi c e , m a r k e ti n g , a n d t e ch n i ca l d e p ar t m en t s t o r e so l v e e a c h a n d e v e ry

    M N P i s s u e t h a t a r i s e s , b u t r e c e i v e l i t t l e o f t h e c r e d i t . S o i n t h i s r e p o r t a t

    lea s t NC A s a ys Ayek oo.

    W e a l s o a p p r e c i a t e t h e s u p p o r t t h e p r o j e c t h a s e n j o y e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o

    enjoy from t he Minis t er of C ommunic a t ions a nd t he NC A B oa rd of Direc t ors ,

    w i t h o u t w h i c h M N P i n G h a n a w o u l d n o t h a v e b e c o m e t h e b e n c h m a r k t h a t

    ot her c ount ries in Afr ic a a nd els ewhere s t r ive t o ma t c h.