ME I DON PORT OO…!

You’ve got the power: What you need to know about porting.

Power and freedom! That is basically what mobile number portability (MNP) offers. Thanks to the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission (NCC) who has directed mobile phone operators to render improved services to their subscribers; hence the Nigerian Mobile Number Portability Service was launched.

Under the new arrangement,
~If you are dissatisfied with the service quality of your current mobile network, porting allows you to terminate your patronage with this network and migrate to any new one of your choice without changing your phone number. Fantastic isn’t it?

~You can port from or port to any GSM mobile operators in Nigeria including, MTN, GLO, ETISALAT and AIRTEL.

~Your subscription or plan is no restriction. Either you are, Pre-paid/pay-as-you-go/post- paid/contract, simple/single number or complex/multi number, all mobile phone users can enjoy this service.

~ In order for you to port, you must visit the customer care office or outlet of the new service provider that you intend to port to. Porting cannot be done via telephone calls, text messages, online or other electronic means.

~To port, you must also present valid identification documents- passport, driver’s license or an official identity card for proof of identity.

~When you want to port your number, you would be asked to complete a Port Request Form. You would then be asked to send a text message with the word “PORT” to a short code “3232”. Porting is completed within 48 hours.

~Every time you port your number to a new mobile network, a new SIM card will be issued to you while your old SIM card will no more be useful once the porting process has been completed.

~As a Subscriber you can port to any network at any time and as many times as you like in a given year. However, porting to a third network or back to your original network is restricted within 90 days of a previous port.

~In the process of porting, information on the progress of your porting is sent via SMS. You are allowed to change your mind at any time before you receive a confirmation SMS. Once you have received this confirmation SMS, a cancellation of this porting request or porting process is not acceptable.

~Service from your old network may be lost within an hour when porting confirmation SMS has been sent.

~After porting, your call charges will change to reflect the tariffs of the new network that you have ported to.

~After porting also, your voicemail, SMS, MMS and ancillary services would need to be reset with the new service provider. Also, the Messages sent to you before porting may be lost.

~Unfortunately, Pre‐paid subscribers cannot take outstanding credit while switching to the new networks. So if you are a pre-paid customer ensure that you use up your credit before porting.

~In addition, Post‐paid subscribers must settle outstanding bills to their service provider, including any early termination fees, before the porting process can begin. It is also important to know that, a final bill for usage, up to the time the number is ported would be sent to the new network. So don’t go calling endlessly if you are a post-paid subscriber thinking that you won’t have to pay up once you have ported.

Now you know what to do once you are not enjoying the services of your current network. Enjoy your freedom. Happy porting!