Accra, July 8, GNA - Airtel Ghana, a mobile communication network on Thursday organised a float through the principal streets of Accra to mark the launch of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in the country. The float, which was also held in Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi simultaneously, is aimed at educating the public on the MNP, SIM card registration as well as the need to join the Airtel family for good service.

MNP is a service that enables one to retain his/her mobile number(s) when one moves from one mobile operator to another without losing the old number which is referred to as 93porting" It also helps one to retain his/her number when one wants to move from one network to another without changing the number. A statement issued in Accra by Donald Gwira, Head of Communication and External Affairs Airtel, said MNP was a policy initiative by the National Communication Authority (NCA), which allowed all mobile SIM card users to move from one operator to another while in touch with the old number.

It said Airtel management was ready with over 10,000 retail outlets across the country to make the porting exercise seamless. In addition, the promotion has several offerings such as 100 free Airtel to Airtel SMS daily after paying for the first two. Mr Gwira said a subscriber required to send a request to the short code 600 to start the porting process by typing 93Port 93 from the existing number and one would receive confirmation message which would require him/her to show at the port on the counter. He said subscribers willing to port must visit any retail outlet and provide any of the following, passport, driving licence, Voters ID, National Health Insurance Scheme and or a National ID after which the shop attendant would take them through the process to register. After filling a porting form, the authorised agent would give the subscriber a new SIM card with the old phone number and this would be automatically registered.