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SIM card sales ban won’t affect porting – NCC

By on March 1, 2014

Despite the ban on the sale of new Subscriber Identification Module cards for all networks by Nigerian Communications Commission as a result of poor conditions of services, subscribers will still be allowed to port into the affected networks.

This, however, is contrary to the assumption of many Nigerians that the ban will lead to the suspension of number porting into the affected networks, as the overall aim of the Nigerian Communications Commission was to ensure that the telecoms firms managed their current subscriber base and not add to the existing figure.

The NCC had earlier this week imposed fines totalling N647.5m on the three operators for failing to meet the Key Performance Indicators for quality of service in the month of January.

Consequently, the three companies were barred from selling SIM cards from March 1 to March 31, 2014.  They were also barred from conducting promotions on their networks until they improved on the KPIs.

The Head, Media and Public Relations, NCC, Mr. Reuben Muoka, told our correspondent exclusively that the status quo would remain as regards Mobile Number Portability.

He said the NCC did not adjust the conditions of porting despite the ban on the sale of SIM cards by the affected firms.

“The ban on sale of new SIM cards is the sanction. Porting is not mentioned. People can port in or port out of any network,” Muoka said.

But some industry watchers believe that allowing number porting into the affected networks may result in the saturation of the networks, as the ultimate objective of the ban is to stop further influx of new subscribers so as to make the current numbers manageable.

Airtel and MTN Nigeria are to pay N185m each, while Globacom is liable to the tune of N277.5m. In addition, each of the operators must pay the sanction amount on or before March 7, 2014, failure of which they will be liable to pay N2.5m per day as long as the contravention persists.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, had said the commission would carry out an audit of the three companies on March 1 and also on March 31 to ensure that no sale of new SIM cards would take place within the period.

 

 

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