Mobile number portability (MNP) is turning into another communication liberalisation plan that seems to have stalled, leaving South African citizens to wonder whether the industry is really interested in allowing freedom of choice.
SA`s mobile operators, by stalling the effective date of MNP, are essentially holding subscribers hostage - allowing them no really effective means of complaining about poor service.
At least, that is what Virgin Mobile claims. When launching the brand, Sir Richard Branson lambasted the industry for not allowing subscribers to change providers in the hopes of getting better service.
Log onto HelloPeter to see hundreds of complaints against SA`s four service providers, including Virgin Mobile. While this is an outlet for consumers to complain through, it`s not nearly as effective as voting with your wallet, and going somewhere else.
Market commentators are suggesting that MNP won`t arrive this year at all.
Nicola Mawson
Sadly, it seems that this is what South Africans are waiting for - a chance to go somewhere else and get service. At least one consumer has been waiting for MNP for over a year before signing up for a new contract. Another told ITWeb he too was dissatisfied. He called an MTN call centre to resolve a billing issue and "waited 25 minutes and 35 seconds without being answered".
And wait we will. Market commentators are suggesting that MNP won`t arrive this year at all.
An alternative answer?
Perhaps - as disgruntled consumers - South Africans could pre-empt and just move providers, assuming that one is not in a fixed two-year contract.
As was pointed out to me recently, there really is no need to hang onto a cellphone number. We all move house, change PO Box addresses, e-mail addresses and jobs, yet we are loath to change our cellphone numbers.
The reality is we could all 'port` ourselves to a new service provider and leave a voicemail message with our new details. And anyone who is not in contact with us in those three months? Were they really that important anyway?
Something to think about while we wait and wait for MNP.
Related stories:
ICASA blamed for number portability delays
MNP implementation dates still uncertain
Operators slammed for MNP stall tactics
Share