The document discusses the regulator's role in ensuring successful mobile number portability (MNP) implementation and management in Tanzania. It provides an overview of Tanzania's communications sector, including policies, regulations, licensing frameworks, market growth, and infrastructure development. It then examines available MNP approaches, noting Tanzania opted for direct routing using All Call Query and a centralized clearinghouse operated by an independent third party. The regulator's involvement in MNP includes establishing robust processes, managing numbering resources, ensuring quality of service, and facilitating dispute resolution. Stakeholder collaboration is also key to the success of MNP.

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2. INTERNATIONAL MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY (MNP)
IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT SUMMIT,
MLIMANI CITY, DAR ES SALAAM, 15 NOVEMBER 2012
“REGULATOR’S ROLE IN ENSURING SUCCESSFUL
MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY (MNP)
IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT”
John S Nkoma
Director General
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)
1

3. CONTENTS
1. Introduction:
2. Communications Sector Overview
2.1 ICT Devices
2.2 Institutional Framework
2.3 Policies, Legislations and Regulations
2.4 Licensing Framework
2.5 Market Growth – Service Providers
2.6 Market growth – Subscribers
2.7 Infrastructure Growth
3.0 Available MNP Implementation Approaches and Management
Options
3.1 MNP Implementation Approach and Management Option for TZ
3.2 ….Clearing House Administration
3.3 Regulatory involvement in MNP Implementation
3.4 Collaboration efforts between Stakeholders
4. Challenges in the Communications Sector
5. Concluding Remarks

4. FIGURE 1: ICT DEVICES AND CONVERGENCE OF
TECHNOLOGIES
Convergence
of
Technologies

5. FIGURE 2: ICT INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORK
GOVERNMENT
Universal Access
Business
Low Prices, Best Services
protection
Profit
Maximization
REGULATOR
CONSUMERS
OPERATORS
QoS
Affordability
Safety, Privacy
4

6. Institutional Arrangements
— Government
is
responsible
for
strategic
Policy
g u i d e l i n e s
f o r
d e v e l o p m e n t
o f
t h e
communications
sector
— The
Tanzania
Communications
Regulatory
Authority
(TCRA)
is
responsible
for
regulation
of
P o s t a l ,
B r o a d c a s t i n g
a n d
E l e c t r o n i c
Communications
sectors
— Operators
are
responsible
for
building,
maintaining
info-­‐communication
infrastructure,
providing
efficient
and
affordable
ICT
services
to
Tanzanians
(rural
&
urban)
— Consumers
expect
affordable,
accessible
and
good
QoS
and
good
QoE
5

7. 2.3 POLICIES, LEGISLATIONS, REGULATIONS
2.3.1 POLICIES
Ø National Telecommunications Policy, 1997
} National ICT Policy, 2003
} National Postal Policy, 2003
} National Information and Broadcasting Policy, 2003
6

8. 2.3.2 Communication Sector
Legislations
Ø Tanzania Communications Regulatory
Authority Act No. 12/2003;
Ø Universal Communications Service
Access Fund Act, 2006
Ø Electronic and Postal Communications
Act, 2010 (EPOCA) (After repeal of
Tanzania Communications Act No.
18/1993 Tanzania Broadcasting
Services Act No.6/1993) 7

9. 2.3.3COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR REGULATIONS, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Quality of Service) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Central Equipment Identification Register)
Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Digital and Other Broadcasting Networks)
Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Computer Emergency Response Team)
Regulations,
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Competition) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Tariff) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Mobile Number Portability) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Postal) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Radio Communications Frequency Spectrum)
Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Interconnection) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Accounting Separation) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Consumer Protection) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Electronic Communication Numbering and
Addressing) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Access, Co-Location and Infrastructure
Sharing) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2011
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Electronic Communications Technical
Standards) Regulations, 2012 (To be published)
— The Electronic and Postal Communications (Contents) Regulations, 2012 (To be signed)

10. 2.4 The Converged Licensing Framework (CLF)
n The CLF was introduced on 23rd February 2005. It
consists of four licenses:
Network Facility License (NFL)
Network Services License (NSL)
Application Services License (ASL)
Content Services License (CSL)
§ The Converged licensing framework is Technology
Neutral and Service Neutral.
§ Market segments: International, National,
Regional, District 9

11. Figure
4:
Voice
Telephone
Subscribers
(2000-­‐2011)
Internet
Users
2005-­‐
2011
Internet
Users
Voice
Telephone
Subscribers
25,827,518
21,158,364
17,642,408
13,130,602
8,486,126
5,766,566
5,311,218
4,957,320
3,118,157
3,563,732
2,090,360
4,378,392
1,445,006
2,973,576
2,327,294
284,109
453,359
768,449
1,681,012
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011

12. Figure
5:
Telephone
and
Internet
Density/PenetraJon
59%
50%
43%
Telephone
Penetration
32%
Internet
21%
Penetration
15%
11.7%
12%
10%
11%
9%
7%
6%
5%
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011

13. TANZANIA NATIONAL ICT BACKBONE NETWORK DIAGRAM
Operational NICTBB
Mutukula Constructionin progress;
Bukoba Sirali Phase II
Musoma SEACOM Submarine OFC
EASSY Submarine OFC
Rusumo Namanga
Operational POP
Biharamulo Mwanza POP- Installation In progress
Phase II POP
Kabanga Moshi
Arusha
Shinyanga
Manyovu Babati Horohoro
Kigoma
Tabora S ingida NORTHERN Tanga
RING
WESTERN Dodoma
RING
Morogoro
Sumbawanga Iringa
Mbeya Makambako
SOUTHERN
RING Lindi
Tunduma
Kasumulo
Mtwara NICTBB
NETWORK
Songea Tunduru DIAGRAM

14. Undersea
cables

15. 3.0 Available MNP Implementation Approaches
and Management Options
Ø In addressing the challenges associated with High
Competition Vs Limited Consumer Choices, MNP has
been used as one of the Solutions enhanced with Carrier
Selection/Carrier Pre-selection options.
Ø There are two fundamental issues that need to be resolved
for porting numbers between operators (Achieving Optimum
Number Portability):
1) Administration: what processes will be used for porting
numbers and managing ported numbers; and
2) Call Routing: How will calls to ported numbers be routed
in competitive networks.
17/11/2012
14

16. MNP Implementation Approaches and
Available
Management Options …2
Ø The widely available MNP Porting Administration Approaches
are:
ü Bi-Lateral / Peer-to-Peer Approach
ü Centralized / Clearinghouse Approach
Ø The widely available MNP Call Routing Options are:
ü Indirect (Onward) Routing (OR) / Call Forwarding (CF)
ü Direct Routing using All Call Query (ACQ)
♣ Details will be given by various Experts during these two days of the Summit……
17/11/2012
15

17. 3.1 MNP Implementation Approach and
Management Option for Tanzania
Ø Taking advantage of the known benefits and
the need for optimized direct routing, the
Authority (TCRA) opted for:
1) Direct Routing Option using All Call Query
(ACQ); and
2) Centralized / Clearinghouse Approach
17/11/2012
16

18. 3.2 MNP Implementation Approach and Management
Option for Tanzania -- Clearinghouse Administration
Ø Asked ourselves as Who Should Operate the
Clearinghouse?
v One option could be Operator(s) to “volunteer” to manage and
offer the centralized broadcast function for all operators. However,
such propositions had to be evaluated extremely carefully for
several reasons:
ü What if such an operator goes out of business?
ü How to avoid allegations of anti-competitive behavior
ü How to control and manage this dependency?
ü How to ensure appropriate Service Levels?
ü How to ensure equal opportunity amongst all User-operators?
17/11/2012
17

19. MNP Implementation Approach and Management Option
for Tanzania -- Clearinghouse Administration (2)
Consensus has emerged that:
…the Tanzanian MNP Clearinghouse
shall be operated by ‘an independent trusted and
licensed third party’…
17/11/2012
18

20. 3.3 Regulatory involvement in MNP
implementation and management
Why……….?
Ø Mobile Number Portability is used by Regulators as one of the tools for
fostering competition;
Ø Leads to improved quality of service and stimulated innovations
Ø To enhance Consumers’ convenience and flexibility as they opt to change
from one service provider to another that offers better value for money or
quality;
Note: the absence of this service in a competitive environment, makes personal
and business communications costlier when involving change of SIM Cards,
manual notification of number change and change all their stationeries such as
letter heads, envelopes, business cards, signage or billboards which potentially
can lead to loss of business.
17/11/2012
19

21. Regulatory involvement in MNP
implementation and management ... 2
How…..?
Ø By establishing a robust Mobile Number Portability Solution(s) where
all the processes and time frame are well defined and the
implementation is seamless;
Ø As long as correct measures are introduced to protect the subscribers during the
porting process, it will be easier to regulate competition .
Ø B y properly planning, assigning and managing Electronic
Communication Numbering resources and schemes;
Ø By periodical measurements of Quality of Service (QoS) so as to
encourage service providers to improve their Quality of Service delivery;
Ø The days of retaining customers based on network coverage alone is soon
becoming a thing of the past. Going forward, the mobile communications service
providers will attract new and retain existing customers based on not only
network coverage, but also on Quality of Service, innovative packages, customer
relations, tariffs; among other things.
Ø By ensuring effective dispute resolution mechanism is put in place.
17/11/201
2 20

22. Regulatory involvement in MNP
implementation and management ... 3
To what extent …..?
Ø In Tanzania, the involvement starts from the consultative
processes for Legislation and Regulations making;
Ø Licensing processes for Clearinghouse Administrator;
Ø Supervision of the MNP programme roll-out activities;
Ø Monitor the performance of the Clearinghouse Administrator;
Ø Perform Compliance enforcement activities.
17/11/2012
21

23. 3.4 Collaboration efforts between different
Stake holders to make MNP a success
Ø In Tanzania, the Collaboration efforts starts from the
stakeholders consultative processes during Legislation
and Regulations making;
Ø Tanzanian mobile operators are expected to work closely
with both the Regulator and the Clearinghouse
Administrator to make our MNP a success;
Ø When Mobile Number Portability is implemented, all
operators are expected to cooperate. For example, win-back
tactics shall not be allowed during porting process;
Ø Tanzanian mobile operators are expected to ensure other
related critical solutions like Carrier Selection and
Equipment Identification Registers (EIRs) are timely
implemented in their systems;
17/11/2012
22

24. 4.0 CHALLENGES IN THE
COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR
— ICT Infrastructure: National ICT Backbone,
Backhaul Terrestrial Connectivity,
Submarine Cables
— High cost of bandwidth
— Spectrum Management
— Expansion of ICT services to rural areas
— Affordable Tariffs
— Cybersecurity: CERT
— Simcard Registration
— Standards: Counterfeit Handsets
— Other Infrastructure: Power, Roads
— Consumer Awareness: Choice 23

25. 5. CONCLUDING REMARKS
ICT Overview
Institutional Framework
Policies, Legislations and Regulations
Licensing Framework
Market Growth – Service Providers
Market growth – Subscribers
Infrastructure Growth
Available MNP Implementation Approaches and Management
Options
MNP Implementation Approach and Management Option for TZ
….Clearing House Administration
Regulatory involvement in MNP Implementation
Collaboration efforts between Stakeholders