Kenya's regulator has set 1 April 2011 as the new date for the launch of the mobile number portability (MNP). The service was meant to go live on 31 December this year, but due to the unpreparedness of mobile operators, the regulator has pushed the implementation date to 1 April. Reports indicate that three of the four operators in the country are not ready for the service, the Daily Nation writes. At a recent Communications Commission of Kenya meeting, all mobile operators committed to the service go-live date of 1 April 2011, a CCK spokesman said. It was also agreed that before the end of the year, all operators would sign an inter-operator agreement between them and M/S Porting Access Kenya that will, among other provisions, bind the parties to provide porting services by the new date. Airtel Kenya MD Rene Meza said the operator was technically ready for MNP and has been collaborating very closely with the CCK to make MNP a reality by December this year. Unfortunately, not all operators are ready and thus it had to be postponed. Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore expressed doubts on the viability of the number portability service in Kenya, citing the culture of users buying more than one Sim card to enjoy the different calling and texting offers by operators.
