UCC slows implementation of mobile number portability - After engaging researchers who recommended that beyond a number of mobile subscribers, the regulator would implement mobile number portability, the Uganda Communications Commission now says it is not a priority. In 2007, with only 3 million mobile subscribers, the UCC commissioned a feasibility study, which indicated that beyond 10 million mobile subscribers it would be viable to implement mobile number portability in Uganda.

In 2011, UCC estimates the total number of mobile subscriptions is 16,015,959, almost twice what was recommended but mobile number portability is yet to happen. Its implementation would promote consumer protection and choice as well as improve effective competition by enabling mobile phone users to switch between mobile telephone service providers while retaining the same caller identi?cation number.

"Initial indications show it is so costly compared to the benefits," said Patrick Mwesigye, director technology and licensing, UCC.

Uganda got to this conclusion after studying developments in the Kenya and South Africa markets that have implemented it but have limited benefits for the heavy investments.

"We are not saying we shall put if off the table completely but we need to do more research to find a suitable model for Uganda," said Mwesigye at the first National conference on communications. The proposed research will find an ideal model for Uganda, most especially to establish who would bear the costs of the platform and equipment. Would it be the operators, regulator, government, consumers or a third party operator could treat it as a business case?

Even if consumers previously thought it was important for Uganda to implement number portability for their protection and to ease their movement from one mobile network to another, some say that the maturity of the market it is not relevant anymore.

Typically, Ugandan mobile telephony consumers own multiple SIM cards and phones, which they switch and use to take advantage of favorable call rates and quality of service.

"There is not much impact and benefits in number portability. It is good but it is not a top priority now, it is more of a feel good factor than a necessity," said James Wire Lughabo the chairman of Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association (UICPA).

Research shows that in many countries where it is implemented not more than 5 percent of mobile telephony subscribers take it up.

In Uganda the two main reasons why consumers abandon one service provider for another or hold multiple SIM cards is because of cost and quality of services. 'The cost to shift because of these two reasons is reducing because the operators are almost at the same level so I do not think we should implement it at all," said Denis Mwebe a consumer.

The research done in 2007 for UCC recommends that implementation of number portability would help customers moving from one network to the other and avoid having them trapped in a non-transitory pricing increase or quality of service decrease because they cannot afford changing their phone numbers. It suggested number portability as one of the remedies to promote competition in voice. But while newer operators still think it is the way to go because it defends the dominance of the larger mobile operators. MTN Uganda, Airtel Uganda and Uganda Telecom do not really care because of their big subscriber numbers.New entrants in the market like Warid and Orange still argue that number portability would give consumers the right to change a supplier. It is therefore still a necessary requirement for the Ugandan mobile telephony market.

"I have always said that a mobile number should belong to the individual not the operator. This should have been implemented in May this year- why have we delayed in Uganda," asked Dr. Francis Tusubira, the Chief Executive Officer of UbuntuNet Alliance.

Esther Nakkazi

The Monitor/04/10/2011