View Full Version : (offtopic) Changing service providers
TheCynick
21-04-2005, 01:44 PM
Hi MTNSP and welcome!
Is there anyway that one can change Service Providers without losing one's number? Since day one I have been underwhelmed by my SP and have plenty of annecdotal evidence that MTN SP is much better than my incumbent...
Raithlin
21-04-2005, 01:48 PM
Likewise here. My contract is due to expire within the next year.
MTN SP (CIC)
25-04-2005, 01:22 PM
Hi MTNSP and welcome!
Is there anyway that one can change Service Providers without losing one's number? Since day one I have been underwhelmed by my SP and have plenty of annecdotal evidence that MTN SP is much better than my incumbent...
Good day.
Yes this will be possible it hasn't been launched as yet and unfortunately I don't have a date as to when it will be launched. The name for this is Mobile portability.
Thanks Clive
TheCynick
25-04-2005, 02:08 PM
Hi Clive,
So will changing Service Providers (not changing networks) also fall under the ambit of number portability? I would have thought that changing to a new service provider but remaining an MTN subscriber would be something that is possible now without full number portability...
MTN SP (CIC)
25-04-2005, 02:25 PM
Hi Clive,
So will changing Service Providers (not changing networks) also fall under the ambit of number portability? I would have thought that changing to a new service provider but remaining an MTN subscriber would be something that is possible now without full number portability...
At the moment, Your not able to move from one SP to Another weather it be MTN to MTN or MTN to Vodacom.
The reason being: Different number ranges allocated to different service providers.
E.g Nashua are mostly 083675 numbers and MTNSP are mostly 083281,083456
Thanks Clive.
Raithlin
25-04-2005, 02:49 PM
At the moment, Your not able to move from one SP to Another weather it be MTN to MTN or MTN to Vodacom.
The reason being: Different number ranges allocated to different service providers.
E.g Nashua are mostly 083675 numbers and MTNSP are mostly 083281,083456
Thanks Clive.
Will this be possible under the new "Mobile portability" system?
MTN SP (CIC)
25-04-2005, 03:20 PM
Will this be possible under the new "Mobile portability" system?
This is the whole idea behind number portability
the whole idea of number rages will be scraped, consumers will not only be able to change S.P's but networks as well. there will be a node called the FNR which will be added on to the network in order to support the service.
This will basically check the number when they log onto our network to check where it belongs.
stoke
25-04-2005, 04:28 PM
So - the only remaining question is ..... WHEN ?
MTN SP (CIC)
25-04-2005, 04:39 PM
So - the only remaining question is ..... WHEN ?
Yes !
When ??? As soon as I know you'll know that I can promise.
Clive.
This poses an interesting question / problem. Calls are typcially cheapest on the same network, more expensive to Telkom, and most expensive to other networks.
What will happen when you call an 083 number, thinking that's it a "same-network" call, when in fact it's a Vodacom number, costing you a lot more than you think...
(On my current package MTN and Telkom calls cost the same, with Voda/CellC being more expensive - so I will often call a Vodacom's landline number first.)
TheCynick
25-04-2005, 05:09 PM
Number portability certainly isn't as simple as it looks...
See http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/techforum/2003/0301150930.asp?S=Telecoms&A=TEL&O=FRGN
and http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2004/0408311228.asp?S=Cellular&A=CEL&O=FRGN
MTN SP (CIC)
25-04-2005, 05:21 PM
hi there Jano and The Cynic
billing is of course going to be an issue, but a resolution to this is obviously in the pipeline. at this time its still a hazy issue that is being attended to. we really cant comment much on this issue but thank you for bringing up such a valid point.
regards
Gareth
MTN service provider