Independent statistics have shown that Cell C, which includes Virgin Mobile, has captured some 40 percent of the number porting market up until the start of January.

The statistics, released on Tuesday, also show that Cell C is the only mobile outfit that has been a net gainer since mobile number portability (MNP) was implemented, losing just 13 percent of all ports.

According to Cell C's head of corporate communications, Vanashree Pillay, "We continue to be very encouraged by these numbers, albeit on the back of small volumes."

He said he was not surprised by the low number of cellphone users who have opted to port, adding that MNP would always have been a gradual process.

"MNP is not a big bang once off activity. We have always believed that MNP is a journey and not a race."

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