This is how you can unlock a network-locked smartphone in SA

[Hanno Labuschagne]

This is how you can unlock a network-locked smartphone in SA

South Africans who have bought a network-locked smartphone can unlock their device in different ways, depending on the mobile operator.

Many consumers still have the mistaken impression that network-locking is prohibited in South Africa.

 

[Randux]

BS

 

[RonSwanson]

Just take it to any Paki shop.

 

[McGuywer]

What a mission

 

[Grubscrew]

So they broke a gentleman's agreement. That should tell you what you need to know about these *Billy Butchers most used word*

 

[bwana]

So they broke a gentleman's agreement. That should tell you what you need to know about these *Billy Butchers most used word*

You should also point your finger at the true culprit - Icasa.

They're ones who conveniently decided not to pursue it.

Of course they'll probably say they were too busy not doing all the other stuff they should have been doing.

 

[noxibox]

So provide some examples of phones that can be bought for less from one of these companies. I don't mean the crooked accounting they usually provide, but actual examples where the total cost of buying from them outright or via contract costs less than just buying the same hardware outright from a retailer.

 

[wernervn]

So provide some examples of phones that can be bought for less from one of these companies. I don't mean the crooked accounting they usually provide, but actual examples where the total cost of buying from them outright or via contract costs less than just buying the same hardware outright from a retailer.

The real figures will be hidden behind actuarial "trade secrets" tables

 

[RonSwanson]

Of course they'll probably say they were too busy not doing all the other stuff they should have been doing.

Exactly, it's all that ANC cadres do. And then just moments before SHTF they suddenly resign.

https://www.ghanamma.com/za/2022/06/08/icasa-chairperson-resigns-unexpectedly-after-spectrum-auction/

 

[JustAsk]

Geezuz, you must have R150 airtime in order to have it unlocked? What BS is this?

Just use universal android debloater to remove/disable all carrier bloat, and Johnny's your fcking uncle. No root needed.

 

[Thugscub]

Simple Simon says.
Just don't buy the aholes phones that are locked.
That so difficult?

 

[Gravedigger]

Well, I hate a phone that have some "vendor" bloat on it, like Vodacom's boot animation after powering on the device.
Most of these changes can be reverted, but the apps are installed as "system apps" making it next to impossible to remove without root.

I had to use ADB at some point, to disable a Vodacom Smart Security app, that Vodacom did not support anymore, that locks out the phone, you cannot do anything. I was lucky that the phone gave you 30 seconds to do something before locking itself. Once I had USB debugging enabled, it was a simple case of finding and disabling the app through ADB.
Saved my uncle a few bucks of going to town (he's a farmer).
He had some stuff on there to recover, so reset was out of the question.

 

[Kornhub]

Just take it to any Paki shop.

@I.am.Sam how much you charge?

 

[Adenoid Hynkel]

Which phones are exactly network locked? I don't believe I've seen one network locked phone (high-end) floating around in the last decade.

 

[William1102]

Which phones are exactly network locked? I don't believe I've seen one network locked phone (high-end) floating around in the last decade.

Think the S22 from Vodacom has to have a Vodacom sim in slot 1 and then only you can use another network sim in slot 2

And Vodacom blocks esim on the S22

 

[RudderVator]

Think the S22 from Vodacom has to have a Vodacom sim in slot 1 and then only you can use another network sim in slot 2

And Vodacom blocks esim on the S22

One has to hand it to Apple. They don't allow network operators to come and think they can dictate to people how to use their devices.

eSIM and normal slot unlocked.

 

[bwana]

One has to hand it to Apple. They don't allow network operators to come and think they can dictate to people how to use their devices.

eSIM and normal slot unlocked.

Of course they do.

iPhone

Powerful. Beautiful. Durable. Check out the new iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.

www.apple.com

They do likewise in many other countries.

 

[RudderVator]

Of course they do.

What do you mean? Never seen a network locked Apple device in SA?

Can have MTN on the eSIM and Telkom on the sim slot no problem.

 

[RudderVator]

Of course they do.

View attachment 1364415

iPhone

Powerful. Beautiful. Durable. Check out the new iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.

www.apple.com

They do likewise in many other countries.

Fair enough. Pay the device off and they unlock it for you. However never seen a network locked Apple device outside the US.

 

[bwana]

Fair enough. Pay the device off and they unlock it for you. However never seen a network locked Apple device outside the US.

Every iPhone my mother has owned in the UK has been network locked. They're happy to give her the code after it's paid off that holds true for most networks. She does keep her phones for a while so that policy may have changed.

EDIT: Good news for her:

Mobile networks banned from selling locked phones​

The UK's mobile networks are to be forbidden from selling phones locked to their services from December 2021.

Regulator Ofcom said unlocking handsets could often be a complicated process, and this was discouraging owners from switching providers at the end of their contracts.

Mobile networks banned from selling locked phones

The watchdog Ofcom says the move should encourage more people to switch and save money.

www.bbc.com