Neotel uses Telkom landlines?

[BobJones]

I was bored so I was looking at what services Neotel offers, and then I noticed their phone number in the contact us page.
A quick lookup in the Yellow Pages suggests that it is a Telkom number.
I wonder if they will be the first customers for their own business services next month and if they will port the current number.
It would be interesting if RPM could confirm who their telecoms provider is in the interview next week, what their current phone bill is like, and how much they expect to save by using their own network?

 

[GavinMannion]

lol, somehow I don't think they will answer that question... The answer will be something like. I don't have that information in front of me right now but there will be a saving.

 

[Leno]

they proberly will be using telkom's network (mainly for POTS) for a long time, similar to how cellc used vodacom's network in the beginning

When they do get interconnect working (if its not working already - I only know what they put out to media ) im sure their number will stay the same, telkom do not own all the 011, 041, 021 etc numbers - they have till now been the only ones allowed to use them

 

[BobJones]

How will the be able to sell business fixed line voice if they do not use it themselves? Interconnection must be up and running before they can have any hope of getting any subscribers. Whats the point of a Neotel line if your customers on telkom phones can't call you?
It will be a marketing disaster if they don't move to their own services from day one.

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Ok I'm going to speculate a little - but I'm sure that 10-digit dialing would enable effective implementation of number portability. Neotel could well be using their own infrastructure regardless of whether they have a traditional Telkom number. It just wouldn't make business sense to be reliant on your competitor's product.

 

[BobJones]

That's what prompted my question in the first place.
Does anyone know what the numbering scheme is going to be like?
Are the GNP regulations ready to be published?
Is the backend for GNP built yet?
What about carrier (pre)selection?
Are the interconnect agreements and costs negotiated?

Is is going to be worth my while to move my retail business to Neotel ISDN?