This week I was a delegate at the Namibia National ICT
Summit hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies in
the capital. On the first day of registration I looked through the programme
and noticed a prize-giving that was to take place in the afternoon after the
close of all the activities. It also stated that you participate by completing
the consumer survey form and handing it at the Telecom stand. Two of my
colleagues and I were at such events previously and have always seen someone
else walk away with the prizes. Nevertheless, we filled in the survey form and
handed it in at the stand. We had left it a bit late and were not expecting
much. Imagine our surprise when then they called my first colleague, then the
second colleague to come fetch their prizes. Even more astounding was when they
read my own name out as a prize winner.
What is the probability of three colleagues handing in their
forms and all three those forms are drawn as prize winners? It turned out not
to be anything about probability but rather certainty. You probably guessed by
now that out of all the professionals attending the event, only three people
read the programme and handed in their evaluation forms. So thank you
organisers for my new dual SIM telephone.
This reminds me of a saying from a friend that goes, “You
must be in it, to win it.”
While at the ICT Summit, I also had the opportunity to
question the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) about an
issues that has been a pressing concern of mine since 2009. Back then, I
approached the then Namibia Communications Commission (NCC) about the idea that
number portability be implemented. Number portability would mean that your
telephone number would belong to you and you would keep this number even if you
switch from one telecoms service provider to another. In 2012, the CEO of CRAN,
stated “The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)) is mandated
to establishing a numbering plan and to require mobile number portability by
2013.”
My question this week was thus, “When is CRAN implementing
number portability?” The officials from CRAN answered me by explaining the
process and what they are presently doing, but did not answer the crucial
question of WHEN.
For the past fifteen years most countries around the world
have opened their telecommunications markets to competition (which also means
implementing a national numbering plan). This proactive move by regulators has
accelerated the deployment of telecommunications services more quickly and
cost-effectively than the state owned monopolies were able to achieve.. For
example, the European Union (EU) Universal Service and Users' Rights Directive
(2002/22/EC), Article 30 - effective since July 2003 - imposes on all EU member
states the following obligations:
“Member states shall ensure that all subscribers of publicly
available telephone services, including mobile services, who so request can
retain their number(s) independently of the undertaking providing the service:
·
In the case of geographic numbers, at a specific
location; and
·
In the case of non-geographic numbers, at any
location.”
Obviously consumers understand that CRAN should look at the
costs/sustainability or other issues that may affect the service providers as
it is most likely that these service providers will pass these costs on to us
as end-users.
However, I would like to point out that the power granted to
the consumer that allows them to change providers (without changing their
number) will force cheaper prices and better service which is the primary reason
for the establishment of regulatory authorities that need to “take into account
consumer needs.”
