Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (Rura) has commissioned a study expected to inform the government and telecom operators whether to invest in mobile number portability (MNP) or not.

MNP will enable local mobile phone subscribers to retain their numbers while using MTN, Tigo or Airtel networks

It will also promote effective competition in the mobile telephony market, according to experts.

Currently, subscribers are forced to buy several handsets to stay on different networks. Some of the customers on the three networks have helped to increase the mobile phone penetration rate to an all-time high.

Statistics from Rura indicate that mobile penetration has hit an all-time high of more than 60 per cent, setting the stage for the mobile phone operators to implement MNP.

READ: Mobile phone penetration now at 57pc in Rwanda

Skeptics have however expressed their doubts as to whether Rwanda will succeed in implementing MNP.

Their reasons include that subscribers are rigid and big players in the market are unwilling to support the initiative fearing to lose revenues.

They cite as an example when Safaricom subscribers in Kenya failed to support MNP and the initiative in the country collapsed.