Airtel Ghana has said they are geared up and strategically positioned in readiness for positive gains when mobile number portability (MNP) comes on board in July this year. In response to a questionnaire from Adom News, the management of the company said Airtel had been canvassing for the implementation of MNP because it believed that overall, the MNP would positively impact the consumer and the industry. “From our preparations we will surely have a good share in the recipient market,” the company said. They explained that technically they have acquired and set up all the necessary equipment, systems, forms and other things to ensure hitch-free porting for incoming customers. The company said they have also adequately trained enough personnel and staff and equipped their technical, sales and customer care staff to handle issues on MNP, adding that on the commercial side of things, they have designed the best value proposition offers for customers porting to Airtel. “We have also designed a communication package for both internal and external stakeholders, and we are ready to roll out best practices learnt from our parent company in India and other countries,” the company said On the question of whether MNP is going to trigger any significant migration of customers, the company said they believed that underlying the MNP was a healthy competition, and the movement of customers would depend on how keener the competition gets. Meanwhile some operators think there would not be more than two per cent migration when MNP starts because most Ghanaians already subscribe to more than one telecom network. Other operators think the physical migration may not be significant in terms of numbers, but critical in terms of value because most high value customers are likely to migrate to other networks. Airtel agrees that MNP would mean freedom of choice, better customers care, better network quality and coverage, newer services, lower cost of services and freedom to keep one number and enjoy services from a better network. The company said MNP will push telecom operators to improve their network quality, promote healthy competition and for Airtel in particular, it would also mean improved market share. Mobile number portability is a system that allows mobile phone users to join any network of their choice and yet maintain their original phone number including the original network code such as 020, 024, 054, 027, 057, 026, 028 and soon to be 023. About 54 countries around the world practice the system and after years of preparations and excuses the National Communication Authorities recently announced that MNP will take off on July 1, 2011. Story by Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona/Adom News/Ghana