Telkom implements changes in dialling procedures
The legal requirement prescribes mandatory 10-digit dialling and the replacement of 09 with 00 as the international dialling prefix.
Local callers will have to dial 10 digits when making calls. Presently, when fixed line to fixed line calls are made within the same area (e.g. the Pretoria area), the caller does not have to dial Pretoria’s area code (namely, 012).
Currently the caller needs to only dial a 7-digt local number. However, in terms of the 10-digit dialling procedure, the area code will have to precede the number even if the caller and the person being called are both within the same area.
The “09” international dialling prefix will be replaced with “00”. With regard to international incoming calls, there will be no change to the current dialling procedures for any person telephoning South Africa from overseas.
PABX customers, within the international category, will be hugely impacted by these changes.
Such changes take effect from 16 January 2007. Where PABX customers have programmed their PABX systems for international call barring, the system will need to be re-programmed to avoid users being able to make unauthorised international outgoing calls.
Customers should also check that any pre-programmed diallable local numbers (e.g. speed dial numbers) are stored in the full 10-digit format. If international numbers are included in this list, the dialling prefixes will have to be changed from 09 to 00.
For Telkom PABX system, you need to do either of the following if you need any help:
–phone 10217, select option 2, then select option 1 and log a ’10 digit dialling request’, requesting assistance to configure pre-programmed diallable local numbers, international call barring, and/or access to international operators, or
—visit www.telkom.co.za Under the heading ‘Can we help you?’, click on Report a fault. Enter the Type of Service and Telephone Number and click Submit. Enter required information on the next screen. For Fault Type choose Own Defined. Use the Comments field to log your request for assistance to configure pre-programmed diallable local numbers, international call barring, and/or access to international operators as required.
–A Telkom technician will be in touch to assist you as soon as possible.
If you are not a Telkom PABX customer, please contact your PABX supplier.
As a further consequence of the ICASA-regulated change in the international dialling prefix from 09 to 00, the short numbers used to dial international operator-assisted services will also change on 16 January 2007. To this end, all existing short numbers will be prefixed by number 1 (one). For example, the existing number for international directory enquiries, namely 0903, will change to 10903.
The numbers affected are:
Short Number for Existing Number New Number
Operator assistance in placing an international call: 0900 10900
All other international call enquiries: 0903 10903
Mass international code-change call handling: 0908 10908
To assist customers fimiliarise themselves with these changes, Telkom will have parallel running of both changes – 7 or 10-digit dialling for local calls and dialling 09 or 00 for the international dialling prefix – will commence in 16 October 2006.
The parallel running period will last for three months up to 16 January 2007 when 10-digit dialling for local calls and 00 as the international prefix become mandatory.
After 16 January 2007, 7-digit dialled local calls will be routed to an announcement, which will request callers to dial all 10 digits when making local calls.
International calls dialled using 09 will also be routed to an announcement, which will request the customer to replace 09 with 00. This will continue until at least 16 March 2007, after which incorrectly dialled calls will be routed to a “number unavailable” tone.
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