It will no longer be necessary in the near future for mobile phone subscribers to buy SIM cards of all the telecoms to enjoy low tariffs and quality service on networks of their choice. This could come to pass after plans by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) to introduce number portability bear fruit. 

Number portability enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another. Therefore, through number portability, subscribers can be able to use one SIM card, say for Tigo or Airtel or MTN, to register numbers of a different telecom firm on the same SIM card.

The initiative has been welcomed by mobile phone owners. "Because it is impossible to switch from one network to another using one phone number, I have been forced to buy two more SIM cards to enjoy their services,” ” said Samuel Ufitinema, a subscriber. 

Jean Baptiste Mutabazi, the head of communication and media regulation at RURA, told Business Times that the regulator has already hired a consultant to carry out a cost-benefit analysis on number portability "so that we see whether it is a feasible project”.

"Once the cost-benefit analysis report is out (hopefully by July), we will then be able to tell whether to permit the service,” he said.

Mutabazi said the consultant, Interconnect, a UK-based firm, based on their experience will be able to look at the costs vis-à-vis the benefits subscribers and operators stand to gain once the service starts. 

Once it is rolled out, sector experts believe it will step up competition in the industry whose subscriber numbers have been growing fast.

In Africa, number portability is used by telecoms in Ghana, Egypt and South Africa, with Nigeria at advanced stages to implement it. Uganda started discussions about the system a few years ago, but is yet to make concrete decisions about it.