Mobile number portability (MNP) is planned to be introduced in Zimbabwe in 2014, says the country’s telecoms regulator.

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has confirmed to ITWeb Africa that it has contacted telecom operators and stakeholders on Friday and Monday to inform them that number portability is expected to be launched in Zimbabwe next year.

MNP involves changing networks while retaining the same mobile number.

If MNP is fully implemented in Zimbabwe next year, the country is set to join other African markets that have already launched number portability such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya.

“Indeed, Potraz seeks to introduce mobile number portability in Zimbabwe,” Alfred Marisa, the acting director general of Potraz, told ITWeb Africa.

“A notice to that effect was sent out to all mobile network operators. The technical details of the mobile number portability framework will be worked out in consultation with all affected operators and other stakeholders,” Marisa added.

Potraz’s move to introduce MNP in Zimbabwe in 2014 comes as experts say the country’s mobile market has become saturated.

Mobile penetration rates in Zimbabwe are forecast to reach 114% by the end of 2013, according to BuddeComm research.

“In Zimbabwe, it’s an interesting scenario: we have more SIM cards than people,” Robert Ndlovu, Zimbabwean ICT analyst, told ITWeb Africa.

“You’ve got more than 14 million SIM cards out there. The average Zimbabwean has got two SIM cards for two networks already,” Ndlovu said.

Ndlovu added that he, like many other Zimbabweans, owns a dual-SIM handset that makes it easy to switch between networks.

He said that because of the availability of dual SIM handsets, there may be no real incentive among Zimbabweans to port their numbers, especially as the process to engage in MNP may be long-winded.

“Depending on who is offering a good calling rate, I use that one (network SIM card),” Ndlovu told ITWeb Africa.

“So, why would I want to port my number and then port it back?”

Ndlovu also said that Potraz needs to prioritise other telecom issues such as quality of service rather than rush to launch MNP.

Nevertheless, Ndlovu notes that if there are Zimbabwean subscribers who do take to MNP, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operator Econet, which has over 8 million subscribers, could come under pressure.

“Econet is feeling the heat,” Ndlovu said.

“That is why they are now into EcoCash, banking, other services,” Ndlovu added.

Earlier this year, Econet re-branded its subsidiary TN Bank to Steward Bank and expressed a plan to leverage technology in the bank’s operations.