{"id":455855,"date":"2022-08-14T07:02:21","date_gmt":"2022-08-14T05:02:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=455855"},"modified":"2022-08-14T07:06:36","modified_gmt":"2022-08-14T05:06:36","slug":"how-to-unlock-a-network-locked-smartphone-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/telecoms\/455855-how-to-unlock-a-network-locked-smartphone-in-south-africa.html","title":{"rendered":"How to unlock a network-locked smartphone in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Many consumers still have the mistaken impression that network-locking is prohibited in South Africa.<\/p>\n

This is because industry regulator Icasa had proposed handset subsidy regulations in 2009 that would have disallowed the practice.<\/p>\n

However, it withdrew the draft regulations in 2011<\/a><\/strong> following a legal challenge due to \u201cprocedural irregularity\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocking devices to the network is an industry practice due to device subsidies by mobile operators that enable customers to pay less for their devices,\u201d Cell C chief operation officer Andre Ittmann told MyBroadband.<\/p>\n

MTN executive for corporate affairs Jacqui O\u2019Sullivan agreed, saying the objective of locking a device into their network is to lower its price.<\/p>\n

Vodacom said network-locking is part of the operator\u2019s strategy to migrate consumers from older networking technologies to 4G.<\/p>\n

\u201cVodacom invests heavily in various subsidies to accelerate and encourage the migration from 2G and 3G to 4G.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to recoup the costs of these subsidies, we typically lock a device for a certain period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis allows Vodacom to sell devices at below-cost prices, promote wider digital inclusion amongst our subscribers and ultimately make our customers happier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vodacom reinstituted selling network-locked smartphones<\/a><\/strong> in October 2019.<\/p>\n

Vodacom business unit chief officer Jorge Mendes said that before this, there was a \u201cgentleman\u2019s agreement\u201d between the mobile operators to shun the practice.<\/p>\n

Despite most smartphones under R500<\/a><\/strong> not having any 4G capability, South Africa\u2019s mobile networks have previously indicated that they would like to shut down their 2G and 3G networks<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

To help phase out the country\u2019s 2G and 3G networks by 2025, Communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni recently announced that South Africa will ban the importation and distribution of 2G devices<\/a><\/strong> by end-February 2023.<\/p>\n

While Vodacom has been pushing sales of 4G devices for less than R1,000<\/a><\/strong>, switching to 3G and 4G too quickly would leave many South Africans disconnected.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Andre Ittmann, Cell C chief operations officer<\/p><\/div>\n

Cell C\u2019s Ittmann said that network locking is device-dependent.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome devices have a lock on both SIM slots and others only the primary SIM slot is locked allowing the customer to use any other network provider for the secondary SIM.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the open slots on network-locked dual SIM devices could be limited in functionality depending on the device.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, open SIM slots are also device dependent with or without limitations \u2014 which include limiting 2G services on other service providers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vodacom said it network locks single SIM and dual SIM devices, with one slot open and the other locked to their network.<\/p>\n

To unlock a device on Vodacom\u2019s network, a customer must wait 12 months before calling 082 135 for the unlocking codes at a fixed fee.<\/p>\n

Similarly, MTN said its customers could unlock a device 12 months after activation by selecting the USSD option on *135# and contacting the call centre.<\/p>\n

Cell C\u2019s device unlocking requires a certain airtime balance depending on the smartphone brand and price bracket.<\/p>\n

When requesting a network unlock code (NUC), Cell C customers must have a non-Cell C SIM on hand.<\/p>\n

The airtime balance required for a network unlock depending on the device\u2019s price bracket is as follows:<\/p>\n