Porting to another network

[steviedee]

Hi,
I have heard before that service providers can charge a "connection fee" of a few cents for all calls made to cell numbers which have been ported to a new network. I can also see problems with switchboards that use premicells - routing calls by the prefix - 082 through a vodacom premicell and 083 through an MTN premicell - then being charges cross-network call charges instead of same-network charges.
Does anyone have experience in this area? or helpful information for people thinking of porting or frequently calling a ported number?
Thanks
Steven

 

[ic]

Hi,
I have heard before that service providers can charge a "connection fee" of a few cents for all calls made to cell numbers which have been ported to a new network. I can also see problems with switchboards that use premicells - routing calls by the prefix - 082 through a vodacom premicell and 083 through an MTN premicell - then being charges cross-network call charges instead of same-network charges.
Does anyone have experience in this area? or helpful information for people thinking of porting or frequently calling a ported number?
Thanks
Steven

I ported my CellC number to Vodacom shortly after MNP was available, and it is widely known that MNP was not very well utilized by consumers - which means that so few consumers have ever ported that it seems like MNP was a complete waste of time and money - I disagree with that - I still believe that MNP is a right which consumers are entitled to even if they do not use it.

Anyways, the issue seems to be with LCR vendors - due to the under utilisation of MNP, I suspect that LCR vendors generally do not bother checking which network a destination MSISDN number is currently attached to, and instead the number gets routed through the original home network [in my case CellC instead of Vodacom]. This is something I have specifically observed with incoming SMSes - they all come through an 084 message centre number instead of an 082 message centre number...

 

[steviedee]

Thanks.
So are there any surcharges or additional tarrifs attached to incorrectly routed calls? or delays in SMSs or anything like that?
I know there is a warning "tone" when dialing a ported number.
Steven

 

[vodacom3g]

I ported my CellC number to Vodacom shortly after MNP was available, and it is widely known that MNP was not very well utilized by consumers - which means that so few consumers have ever ported that it seems like MNP was a complete waste of time and money - I disagree with that - I still believe that MNP is a right which consumers are entitled to even if they do not use it.

Anyways, the issue seems to be with LCR vendors - due to the under utilisation of MNP, I suspect that LCR vendors generally do not bother checking which network a destination MSISDN number is currently attached to, and instead the number gets routed through the original home network [in my case CellC instead of Vodacom]. This is something I have specifically observed with incoming SMSes - they all come through an 084 message centre number instead of an 082 message centre number...

Agree that the option should be available, but I've often wondered if MTN, VC and Cell-C should not have used to money to build more towers.

 

[Ecco]

Agree that the option should be available, but I've often wondered if MTN, VC and Cell-C should not have used to money to build more towers.

BS statement of note. MTN and vodacom make such large profits you guys are hardly struggling to get by. You could build a **** load more towers and still make a nice profit.

 

[steviedee]

Agree that the option should be available, but I've often wondered if MTN, VC and Cell-C should not have used to money to build more towers.

I actually think MTN has superior network coverage. Vodacom signal in our office is terrible, and at my house it is almost non-existent. We have reported the poor signal at our house, and they often SMS me to say they are planning to build a new tower in the area, but for the past 5 or so years that has not materialized. When I called recently to inquire as to how the alleged tower is coming along - I was told I need to get the cell numbers and names of 5 other vodacom users in the area who also experience poor network coverage before any inquiries can be made. Both my parents have moved to MTN, but I am still patiently waiting for my faith in the network to be restored. I wish they could just come put a temporary transmitter on my roof till a permanent solution is found.
Steven