Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has called on the telecoms regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to fast-track the implementation of Mobile Number Portability, saying this move will promote healthy competition amongst operators and also improve the Quality of Service in the industry.

Speaking Tuesday at the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria’s (ATCON) Telecoms Executives and Regulator’s Forum in Lagos, Airtel’s Director of Regulatory Affairs & Special Projects, Osondu Nwokoro, said: “Airtel is in full support of the urgent implementation of MNP. We commend the NCC for their efforts thus far and encourage them to push harder for the implementation of the Project. It is our belief that the implementation of MNP will address quality of service issues and also help to put an end to anti-competitive practices in the industry.”

He added that, the initiative will benefit telecoms consumers as well as drive operators to improve service delivery.

Represented at the event by Adeyemi Shola, Airtel’s Head of Licensing and Compliance, Nwokoro stated that Airtel is currently working with relevant Stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of the MNP.

“Right now, the MNP test run is about to commence and Airtel is very prepared for this phase of the Project. We are also working harmoniously with the Interconnect Clearing House and other operators to ensure that the Project commences as scheduled as having too many implementation delays is not in the interest of the industry,” he said.

Adding his voice to the urgent implementation of MNP, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, president of National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), urged the NCC to keep to its pledge of implementing MNP in the first quarter of 2012. He said telecoms consumers are currently groaning in pains and MNP will provide soothing relief to them.

In his response, the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah, assured that MNP would be fully implemented before the end of the first quarter of 2013, without fail.

The EVC also commended the Interconnect Clearing House for an excellent job done so far.

Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.

•Photo: NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah.