Increased mobile phone penetration in Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda has set the ground for subscribers to retain their same numbers when they switch service providers.

The three countries had shelved plan to introduce the mobile number portability because of resistance by dominant players who feared market share losses as well as the high cost of installing the equipment to support the service.

READ: EAC plan for number portability hits a snag

Fred Otunnu, director of corporate affairs at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), however, said consultations among stakeholders had yielded some fruits and the service was now ready for a rollout.

“The project is now on the table,” said Mr Otunnu, without disclosing the timelines and the level of commitments. Uganda shelved the rollout of mobile number portability project in 2007. Rwanda shelved the plan in 2011.

The Uganda telecom operators were waiting for at least 10 million mobile phone subscribers before they roll out the service. Uganda’s current mobile phone penetration rate has hit 65 per cent, boosted by operators selling affordable handsets and products.

The Rwandan telcos — Airtel, Tigo and MTN — were waiting for the increased penetration to reach 60 per cent. Current data from Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura) shows the rate has reached 8.8 million subscribers as at December 2015.

“Tigo Rwanda welcomes number portability. This will allow great flexibility and choice for the customer. We are working closely with Rura and other stakeholders to make sure phone portability process is as seamless and painless to the customer as possible,” said the telco in a statement.

Increased penetration helps stabilise market shares, creating a basis for operators to share the porting costs.

Rwanda has already invited expression of interest in installing and running a centralised solution for mobile number portability.

It is understood that Rwanda could launch the facility as early as July this year while Tanzania is contemplating having the service by August.  

Patrick Nyirishema, Rura acting director general, said the expression of interest followed a cost-benefit analysis that recommended the implementation of MNP. He said the cost and its impact on customers will be determined once the implementation starts.

The initial plan mooted by Rura is to pass over the costs of porting to operators to make the service affordable to subscribers, unlike in Kenya where the subscribers pay $40 for the switch.