-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
Cellular number ranges
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
kiepie
Executive Member
So after Vodacom released 082 & 072, why not just continue down the line with 062?
risingtide
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
- Messages
- 693
- Reaction score
- 0
IIRC Geographic number portability for landlines should have been implemented about a year ago.
Once that comes into effect it will be impossible to know where the called number is located. If one sticks to the principle that one should know how much a call is going to cost then the separation into local and trunk calls becomes nonsensical.
Unless you are mathematician we already have an 'unknown' cost aspect in that the numbers and inter-connection charges between Telkom and the new operators is virtually impossible to understand.
What we are seeing, and we should start talking about in order to know the cost implications of making a call, is a convergence of all communication services into a single structure with a uniform tariff, i.e. any phone call, be it landlines to landline, cell to cell, cell to landline (from and to any operator) nationally, should cost the same.
If we don't work towards such a goal we will soon have a situation where we have no idea how much a call will cost and that would be not be a fair deal for the consumers.
Once that comes into effect it will be impossible to know where the called number is located. If one sticks to the principle that one should know how much a call is going to cost then the separation into local and trunk calls becomes nonsensical.
Unless you are mathematician we already have an 'unknown' cost aspect in that the numbers and inter-connection charges between Telkom and the new operators is virtually impossible to understand.
What we are seeing, and we should start talking about in order to know the cost implications of making a call, is a convergence of all communication services into a single structure with a uniform tariff, i.e. any phone call, be it landlines to landline, cell to cell, cell to landline (from and to any operator) nationally, should cost the same.
If we don't work towards such a goal we will soon have a situation where we have no idea how much a call will cost and that would be not be a fair deal for the consumers.
Last edited:
damian24
Senior Member
I'm waiting for confirmation from Neotel on when I can get GNP on the fibre I'm putting in through them.
unofficially, by June / July but I'll have a better indication by next week.
D
Prometheus
Banned
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
- Messages
- 4,252
- Reaction score
- 3
Geographic number portability the way I understand it is that you can switch providers and keep your number. Very much the same as MNP. Telkom has always offered the option to keep your number when changing location unless you move to a different exchange. It is then simply impossible to keep your number because of the way landline networks are structured. All area and exchange numbers will still remain the same so if you dial a 021 number from a 011 it will be a long distance call.
It's already suppose to be implemented but with Neotel yet to launch a consumer offering we'll just have to wait and see. Trial customers all got new numbers so porting may also be an issue in offering a consumer service.
ads
Senior Member
We are now very close to having to make a radical change in the numbering scheme, particularly given the fact that prepaid mobile numbers get wasted, as they are created and seem never to be re-used, long after the SIM card has been discarded, and the previous subsciber is no longer active.
The consensus approach to increase the available numbers is to add a digit in front, as has been done in many countries that have run out of numbers (the UK being the most familiar example, where the London code/s and the mobile codes have all changed at least once in recent years). Typically, +27 82 would become +27 982, +27 83 would become +27 983 etc. New mobile numbers could then continue to be created in +27 9xx. Jo'burg numbers could change from, say, +27 11, to +27 611, to make room for more geographic numbers (and to keep the length consistent across all services). It's then easy to see how the whole scheme allows for ten times as many numbers, and a better balance between demand from different services, once the migration is complete.
Currently, the operators and ICASA are simply delaying this inenvitable change, although it has been identified and solutions proposed. This is exactly like Eskom and power stations. They are going to panic only when it's too late, and they have to inconvenience everyone (e.g. by having to change all numbers instantaneously).
If they start the migration now, it is possible to create a period of overlap, during which dual numbering would apply, by making use of the free "6" and "9" initial digits. This window of opportunity is closing fast. Number shedding, anyone?
The consensus approach to increase the available numbers is to add a digit in front, as has been done in many countries that have run out of numbers (the UK being the most familiar example, where the London code/s and the mobile codes have all changed at least once in recent years). Typically, +27 82 would become +27 982, +27 83 would become +27 983 etc. New mobile numbers could then continue to be created in +27 9xx. Jo'burg numbers could change from, say, +27 11, to +27 611, to make room for more geographic numbers (and to keep the length consistent across all services). It's then easy to see how the whole scheme allows for ten times as many numbers, and a better balance between demand from different services, once the migration is complete.
Currently, the operators and ICASA are simply delaying this inenvitable change, although it has been identified and solutions proposed. This is exactly like Eskom and power stations. They are going to panic only when it's too late, and they have to inconvenience everyone (e.g. by having to change all numbers instantaneously).
If they start the migration now, it is possible to create a period of overlap, during which dual numbering would apply, by making use of the free "6" and "9" initial digits. This window of opportunity is closing fast. Number shedding, anyone?
Something I never understood. How does adding the area code add extra numbers? If my number was 123 4567 and then it becomes 011 123 4567, surely no scope has been added given the 011 remains the same throughout Joburg.
What am I missing?
What am I missing?
hunnymonster
Banned
You're missing that formerly special numbers like 911 become usable...
So with 'no prefix' Joburg 911xxxx isn't possible - if you have to dial the full number 011 911xxxx is possible.
Usually it's all the 1xx range that gets freed up and the local 0xx range.
I'm speaking as someone who had a number diallable internationally as +44 (234) 567 (not real don't bother calling it) - now without moving a single inch it's +44 (1234) 890567 - changing the whole number is a real pain in the butt
So with 'no prefix' Joburg 911xxxx isn't possible - if you have to dial the full number 011 911xxxx is possible.
Usually it's all the 1xx range that gets freed up and the local 0xx range.
I'm speaking as someone who had a number diallable internationally as +44 (234) 567 (not real don't bother calling it) - now without moving a single inch it's +44 (1234) 890567 - changing the whole number is a real pain in the butt
According to the Numbering Plan Regulation Document 06 has been reserved for future use - maybe they dont deem mobile communications important enough?