Togo Cellulaire and Moov Africa currently dominate the Togolese mobile telephony market. These two operators have faced repeated admonitions from the telecom regulator for failing to meet regulatory thresholds for service quality and coverage.

In a positive development, Togo is set to implement mobile number portability by the end of 2023. Kadiri Ouro-Agoro, Legal and Consumer Protection Director of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) announced last week that technical preparations were underway to ensure a seamless transition of services.

Under Togolese electronic communications laws dating back to 2012, mobile number portability enables users to retain their geographic or non-geographic number when changing service providers without having to relocate within Togo.

ARCEP initiated the technical implementation of mobile number portability in April, following the adoption of relevant regulations in July 2022 and subsequent government approval. This move comes after a market study conducted by the regulator in October 2021 revealed that 95% of Togolese consumers were in favor of mobile number portability.

The introduction of mobile number portability is expected to empower Togolese consumers with greater freedom to choose their preferred telecom operator based on factors such as competitive rates, superior service quality, or tailored features, all without the need to change their phone numbers. Furthermore, this development is likely to foster increased competition between Togo Cellulaire and Moov Africa, benefiting consumers with improved offerings and services.

Isaac K. Kassouwi