Kenya stops porting fees for mobile subscribers

The Government of Kenya has scrapped fees for number portability, that is the switching from one network to another, in a move is aimed at increasing customer satisfaction and competition. This is after the technology failed to live up to its expectations.

According to an article posted on My Gov website, The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) in a statement said it had resolved to review the procedures and guidelines for provision of mobile portability services following discussions with key sector players.

In March, CA Director General Francis Wangusi said the fear of losing customers to rival telecoms during portability period left the exercise on shaky ground and promised a review of the service. He said this fear was heightened with the longer period it took to port a number.

The Director General noted that portability was also affected by increased uptake of multiple simcard phones. “The time taken to port from one number was too long and operators feared losing customers to rivals, who made the process, slow down,” he said. “Acquiring multiple simcard phones has also slowed down the process with some people having two or three simcards, with some with even 20 simcards,” he said at the East Africa Ministers Panel titled ‘Getting the Next Billion Online’ during the Connected 2016 Summit at Leisure Lodge Resort, Diani in Kwale County in March.

However, the new move scraps off the KSh200 fees charged for porting and the lengthy period of time one had to wait before the number was deactivated and reactivated under a new regime. Kenyan mobile phone operators include Orange, Airtel and Safaricom.

CA said that number portability services will be provided at all mobile operator owned retail outlets and that an operator will not stop a subscriber from migrating even when they have outstanding debts such as airtime, loans, fees or charges as there exists a legal framework for solving debt collection, legal, contractual and other related issues.

Mobile phone users will however have to honour contractual obligations with his former operator. However, on mobile phone money accounts managed by individual mobile operators, CA said an account holder will be forced to withdraw all funds before porting is done. If a user fails to pay all outstanding fees and debts, then he or she risks being taken to court.