The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa hereby gives notice to postpone the implementation of the geographic number portability process for individual customers.
Geographic number portability (also known as fixed number portability) - the ability of fixed-line customers to switch from one fixed-line operator to another without losing their fixed-line numbers - became effective from 18 May 2009.
It should be noted that geographic number portability was to be implemented in phases with the first phase only dealing with blocks of 1 000 and 10 000 numbers and more (that is mostly corporate customers), and the second phase was to deal with individual numbers (that is mostly for residential customers).
In terms of the regulations, porting of individual customers was to take place within 10 months following the implementation of the first phase. However, after the authority consulted with operators (that is Telkom and Neotel) regarding the readiness on the second phase, it was agreed that due to unforeseen technical challenges, it may not be possible to launch the second phase of this process on 18 March 2010. The second phase will only be implemented on 26 April 2010.
For more information on porting, the public is encouraged to contact the operators, Neotel and Telkom.
Media enquiries should be directed to:
Paseka Maleka
Tel: 011 566 3455
Cell: 079 509 0702
E-mail: pmaleka@icasa.org.za
Issued by: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
17 March 2010
Source: Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
(http://www.icasa.org.za/)
