The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed the monthly porting trend in the telecommunications sector per mobile operator in January 2024.
Techeconomy analyzed the trends which show that a total of 3,154 total mobile number porting activities were carried out by telecom subscribers in January 2024.
This indicates 425 higher number porting activities compared to the 2,729 recorded in the preceding month (December 2023).
According to the NCC statistics, MTN tops the gainers chart with incoming 2,270 subscribers. Airtel occupies the second spot with 541; Globacom recorded 187, while 9mobile had 156 incoming subscribers in the month under review.
On the losers table, 9mobile lost 2,163 subscribers followed by Glo with 419 leaving the network; 375 Airtel subscribers left the network while 197 dissatisfied subscribers left ported away from MTN network.
NCC launched the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in the year 2013 with the aim of giving the telecom consumer a choice and freedom to be with the best network at any time as well as enhance competition in the industry.
How to Port Mobile Number in Nigeria
Do you want to change or switch or port your line from one network operator to another?
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit a recipient operator via one of its points of sale such as office, friendship centre, high street store, corporate sales team, or authorised dealer, to request for MNP.
Step 2: You will be issued MNP request form to fill. You must have a valid proof of identity with visible photograph, your SIM must be ACTIVE, you must be able to provide the serial number of your SIM card and you must have registered the active SIM card.
Step 3: A new SIM of the recipient provider will be issued to you and the SIM will be registered at the office. You will be informed to text “PORT” to 3232. This is critical because if you fail to send the text, the request will not be honoured.
Step 4. The recipient provider will forward your request to NPC (Number Portability Clearing House) where validation will be carried out. If validated OK, the SIM will be activated and you will be informed.
Note that once your new SIM is activated, any airtime you have left on your old SIM will be wiped off and calls you make thereafter will be billed according to the default tariff plan of your new service provider BUT your phone number will still remain the same.