Let’s go for the technical implementation of mobile number portability in Togo. The process was officially launched on April 7, 2023 in Lomé by the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) in the presence of the two mobile operators, namely Togo Cellulaire and Moov Africa Togo.
Pursuant to Article 4 of Law No. 2012-018 on electronic communications of December 17, 2012 as amended, number portability is defined as “the possibility for a user, subscribed to an electronic communications service provider, when ‘he changes supplier to keep the same geographical number without changing geographical location and to keep his non-geographic, fixed or mobile number when he changes supplier while remaining in Togo’.
In other words, portability offers, according to Arcep, the possibility for a dissatisfied customer to be able to leave their operator for another operator while keeping their number.
“The reasons for dissatisfaction can be, for example, high prices, unsuitable offers, poor quality of service or coverage, faulty customer service or any other reason”, explains the institution, which specifies that according to the schedule agreed with the two mobile operators, the portability of mobile numbers should be effective in Togo during the last quarter of 2023.
The Dutch PortingXS (PXS) solution, which has already been deployed in some twenty countries around the world and in particular those in the sub-region such as Ghana, Benin, Senegal and Nigeria, has been selected for this purpose.
It should be noted that in Togo, 95% of consumers surveyed were in favor of mobile number portability in the country according to a market study carried out by ARCEP carried out one in October 2021. Massive support which paved the way for the adoption of the regulations relating to the portability of mobile numbers by decision n°137/ARCEP/DG/22 of July 18, 2022 and approved by the Minister in charge of electronic communications by order n°008/MENTD/CAB of August 12, 2022 .
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