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Building Confidence in Mobile Number Portability (MNP) With Measures that

Protect Consumers

Presenter: Dr. Joseph S. Kilongola, Director ICT/TCRA

Mobile Number Portability Implementation & Management Summit

– Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, 15th – 16th November 2012

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Content

!   Why MNP in Tanzania !   Readiness for introducing MNP in Tanzania !   Measures to protect Consumers

!  What is consumer protection !  Consumer protection measures

!   Way forward !   Conclusion

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Why MNP in Tanzania?...(1)

!   The situation is ripe - Many Operators (>5) !   Potential demand for NMP

!  necessity to formalise and improve mobile subscribers choice to change from one mobile operator to another while retaining his / her registered mobile number.

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Why MNP in Tanzania?...(2)

To maximise the benefits of MNP such as:- !   Enhanced competition and vibrancy in the

Communications Sector !   New thrive on technological innovations

and deployment of appropriate technologies to address market service demand;

!   Broadening of Consumer rights and choices

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Why MNP in Tanzania?...(3)

!   Regulatory tool for enhancement of competition (QoS, QoE, coverage etc.);

!   More transparency & predictability of tariffs;

!   Increased number of satisfied users of the services;

!   Increased individual & national economical growth;

!   Increased revenues for service providers.

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How ready is Tanzania to introduce MNP?...1)

!   Strong Political will !  Act – EPOCA; !  MNP Regulations (consultative with all

Stakeholders); !   Establishment of Agencies to protect

consumers e.g. FCT, FTC, CCC / TCRA, Content Committee / TCRA, Consumer Complaints Committee / TCRA, etc. .

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How ready is Tanzania to introduce MNP?...(1)

!   Smart pro active regulator, TCRA:- !  MNP Regulations are in place; !   ToRs for the Lead consultant for MNP are

ready; !   Advert for EoI for MNP Clearing House

ready.

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What are the Consumers’ concerns on MNP? ...(1)

!   Consumer protection consists of laws and organisations designed to ensure the rights of consumers as well as fair trade competition and free flow of truthful information in the marketplace (free encyclopaedia)

!   In Tanzania the relevant laws and organs to protect consumers such as Fair Competition Tribunal, Fair Trade Commission, Consumer Consultative Council/TCRA, Complaints Committee and Content committees etc. are in place.

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What are the Consumers’ concerns on MNP? ...(2)

Consumers want to be clear with certain issues in order to maximise benefits of MNP. Key issues are centred on:- !   Costs of changing from one service

provider to another; !   Simplicity of porting procedures; !   Time taken to complete the porting

process;

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What are the Consumers’ concerns on MNP? ...(3)

!   Incumbent’s win back strategies – including employment of targeted discriminatory behaviour e.g. pricing;

!   Transparency of the tariffs – is necessary

as incumbents might increase terminating charges.

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Measures to protect MNP Consumers...(2)

!   Time taken for the porting process is pre determined; set timeframe with SLAs!

!   Discriminatory /uncompetitive practices

must be prohibited and penalised as per the law & regulations.

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Benefits of MNP to Consumers

!   Benefits to consumers include: !   Increased freedom and right for choice !  Retention of contacts and no cost of

printing new stationery !  Retention of identity and mobile contacts

even after porting; !   Increased protection (QoS, QoE, Tariffs,

SLA etc.); !   Better service packaging and pricing ; !  Competitive tariff packages; !  Better customer negotiation powers

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Conclusion

!   MNP – increases choice of a mobile subscriber between service providers while retaining assigned mobile number;

!   The introduction of MNP in Tanzania will foster competition, increase service / products offered, contribute to improved QoS & QoE;

!   Tanzania is ready for MNP from legal, regulatory & potential market demand;

!   Stakeholder involvement and awareness will be a corner stone to successful implementation of MNP

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Conclusion...2

!   MNP – is a helpful tool in encouraging open competition in telecoms sector leading to satisfied consumers, increased service usage and economical growth.

!   MNP requires calls for consumer protection against porting charges, porting duration, discriminatory tariffs

!   All communications stakeholders need to work together closely and transparently to make the implementation of MNP a success.