MyAdhan Blog

Link: Pakistan: Mobile number portability fails to attract subscribers

The Mobile Number Portability (MNP), launched in March 2007 at a cost of Rs 5 billion, failed to create any impact on the country cellular industry. According to fugures, only 11,800 subscribers out of 80.30 million have availed this service, representing only 0.14 percent subscribers. Industry analysts feel that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and none of the operator have aggressively run a campaign to educate and create awareness regarding their right to use MNP. Analysts said at the time of MNP launch there were approximately over 54 million mobile phone users. Although during the one-year period of MNP launch the number of subscribers have increased up to 26 million but still the numbers of subscriber availing this service is very discouraging. According to an Industry official, the scheme lacks a proper database of subscribers as all the operators are still in the process of updating their subscribers’ data. PTA is forcing all the operators to update their subscriber data but none of the existing operator could claim to have updated data of their subscriber. On the issue of subscriber data, a senior official in a mobile company said, at present all the operators are aggressively working to expand their network to gain maximum subscribers. In this scenario all the operators are lacking to update their data. On the other hand the franchise owners are also blackmailing the operators. If the mobile phone operators force them to follow the instruction of PTA they threat them that they will switch to their competitor company. Mobile companies are charging Rs 100 to Rs 200 for MNP activation. In the current trends, customers prefer new connection rather than getting into the hassle of MNP.