Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has given consumers the power of choice to switch service providers without losing their cherished phone numbers. This has gained significant traction in the Asia Pacific region, driving increased competition between operators to provide exceptional customer experiences. 

However, to make mobile number portability a reality you need technology partners that can ensure the process is seamless, compliant and secure. 

That’s where the three-way partnership between Syniverse, TCI and Infobip comes in. To learn more, we sat down with Paul Hodges, Head of Asia Pacific Syniverse, Melanie Manuel, General Manager of TCI and Johan Jensen, Regional Telecom Growth Lead for APAC at Infobip.

Why MNP is important in the APAC region

MNP presents a huge opportunity for mobile network operators globally. The global forecast for 2024-2031 indicates a CAGR of 2.30%.

This increase is fuelled by increasing consumer awareness of their rights, demands for better service quality, competitive pricing, and innovative offerings from telcos. As mobile subscribers (both enterprise and consumer) seek greater control over their telecommunications services, MNP becomes a crucial tool for fostering competition and enhancing customer satisfaction in the mobile market.

As Paul Hodges, Head of Asia Pacific for Syniverse, explains, “MNP is a powerful tool that can level the playing field for consumers and businesses alike. By enabling consumers to easily switch providers, it fosters competition and innovation, ultimately leading to better services and lower prices.”

Melanie Manuel, General Manager of TCI, emphasizes the benefits of MNP for consumers: “MNP empowers consumers to choose the best network and services based on their needs, leading to greater satisfaction and enhanced competition among service providers.”

And for Asia Pacific alone, the opportunity is vast.

Understanding the regulatory landscape

The implementation of MNP is often driven by government regulations. In the Philippines, for example, the MNP law was promulgated in 2018, and the service was launched in September 2021.

However, the APAC region presents a diverse regulatory landscape for MNP, and implementing it means each countries laws need to be adhered to and that too in a seamless manner.

The partnership trifecta: Syniverse, Infobip, and TCI

To overcome the challenges associated with MNP implementation and accelerate its adoption, Syniverse, Infobip, and TCI have formed a strategic partnership.

Syniverse, a global leader in mobile network solutions, has been instrumental in facilitating MNP in the region. As Paul Hodges explains, “Syniverse has a wealth of experience in implementing MNP services worldwide, and we are proud to be part of this initiative in the Philippines.”

As a leading global communications platform, we at Infobip, can leverage our extensive network and expertise to provide MNP dipping services to enterprise customers. 

Johan Jensen, highlights the importance of this partnership: “By collaborating with Syniverse and TCI, we can offer our enterprise clients a seamless and reliable MNP experience. Since enterprises often don’t know which mobile network their end users are utilizing, having real-time insight to ensure messages are sent to the correct network is crucial. This ensures that end users do not miss time-critical messages like OTPs and can also receive relevant marketing messages in a timely manner”.

This partnership entails having the right products, the newest technologies, and the right partner to enable enterprise clients and eventually get the best service when it comes to routing A2P traffic to the right provider to ensure that delivery rates, conversion rates that basically everything runs as smooth as possible. 

Mobile operators in the Philippines have recently implemented several additional security measures, such as closely monitoring messages with URL weblinks, which must now be sent only through the mobile network used by the end user. Knowing which mobile network to send messages to is essential for a good user experience and a positive brand perception.

How this partnership benefits enterprises and consumers

The partnership between Syniverse, Infobip, and TCI brings numerous benefits to both enterprises and consumers:

• Enhanced customer experience: MNP empowers consumers to switch providers without hassle, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Increased competition: MNP fosters competition among service providers, driving innovation and pricing pressures.
• Business continuity: Enterprises can maintain uninterrupted communication with their customers during network transitions.
• Efficient number management: MNP simplifies number management for enterprises, especially those with large customer bases.
• Seamless messaging delivery: Access to the mobile network information of each end user ensures smooth message delivery.

Talking about the benefits, Melanie says: “It of course will enhance competition in the Philippines and give the consumers better choice and of course, while keeping their number. Introducing MNP in the Philippines is really a good step because now the consumers have the power of choice, and this time they can keep their numbers forever.

“When people would like to switch networks, but they would have to change their numbers, they sort of stop doing it and just get tied up with their current provider.

“But now that they have the power of choice by virtue of price, service, quality and of course customer service. So, this is a really dynamic way of doing MNP in the Philippines, with the help of our technology provider.”

The benefits of this partnership go beyond customer satisfaction, helping enterprises and telcos navigate the complex regulatory landscape by leveraging best-in-class technology from both Syniverse and Infobip.

Smoothening security challenges in a complex regulatory landscape

The partnership between Syniverse and Infobip is crucial in addressing the security challenges associated with MNP. Both companies bring advanced security measures and expertise to the table:

• Robust security measures:
  • Encryption: Protecting sensitive data during transmission and storage.
• • Authentication and authorization: Verifying the identity of users and granting appropriate access.
• • Fraud detection and prevention: Implementing proactive advanced fraud detection techniques to identify and mitigate suspicious activity.
• Network security:
  • Network monitoring: Continuously monitoring network traffic for signs of intrusion or anomalies.
• • Security incident response: Having well-defined procedures to respond to security incidents promptly and effectively.
• Regulatory compliance:
  • Staying up to date: Keeping abreast of the latest regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance.
• • Proactive risk management: Identifying and addressing potential regulatory risks.

By leveraging Syniverse’s expertise in network security and Infobip’s global and local expertise, the partnership ensures the protection of sensitive customer data and the integrity of the MNP, benefiting both mobile users and enterprises alike.

Why partner with Infobip?

Syniverse and TCI chose to partner with Infobip due to its strong market presence, technical expertise, and commitment to delivering innovative solutions. 

By leveraging our global network and capabilities, they can accelerate the adoption of MNP and provide a superior customer experience.

Jensen says: “Infobip is the first official partner in with Syniverse for the Philippines MNP service, which enables us to provide a very powerful solution to ensure that our enterprise clients have the best product in the right market.

So of course, in any partnership, it’s important that you put the right man or in this case the right partner on the right job, right? And by having both TCI and Syniverse behind this new and innovative service in the Philippines, it really gives Infobip and our enterprise sales team, a lot of confidence in going to the market, knowing that everything behind the scene, is working as it should be.”

Seconding this, Paul says: “Syniverse have been working very closely with Infobip in a number of Asian countries now over many years. I believe we started together in Singapore, and we have jointly expanded these services towards our enterprise clients in a numerous number of countries.”

The collaboration between Syniverse, Infobip, and TCI represents a significant step forward in the adoption of MNP in the APAC region. By addressing the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities, these companies are shaping the future of telcos and empowering consumers and enterprises alike.