Telkom today announced that it will comply fully with the legal requirement prescribing mandatory 10-digit dialling and the replacement of 09 with 00 as the international dialling prefix.
This is in line with the Communication Minister's promulgation of a Numbering Plan prescribed by the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) in terms of Section 89 of the Telecommunications Act. The Numbering Plan was implemented by Icasa earlier today.
Parallel running of both changes - that is, the change to 10-digit dialling and the implementation of the 00 international dialling prefix - will commence on 16 October 2006. The parallel running period will last for three months up to 16 January 2007 when 10-digit dialling and the international prefix 00 become mandatory.
After 16 January 2007, mis-dialled calls will be routed to announcements which will request that callers dial 10 digits when making local and national calls. This will continue until 16 March 2007, after which mis-dialled calls will be routed to a "number unavailable" tone.
Presently, when fixed-line to fixed-line calls are made within the same area (for example, Pretoria) the caller does not have to dial Pretoria's area code (namely, 012). The caller, therefore, needs to only dial a seven-digit local number (eg. 426-6920).
However, in terms of the 10-digit dialling system, the area code for Pretoria (012) will have to precede the number (for example, 426-6920) even if the caller and the person being called are both within the Pretoria area. The full number - (012)426-6920 - is what is referred to as 10-digit dialling.
"What is essentially needed is a mind-set change where the area code always precedes the fixed-line number. It is identical to a fixed-line call being made from a cellular phone," explains Lulu Letlape, Telkom's Group Executive for Corporate Communication.
Adds Letlape: "Cellular numbers already comprise of 10 digits so calls from fixed-lines to cellular phones do not require any dialling changes to be made."
With regard to international calls, there will be no change to the current dialling procedures for any person telephoning South Africa from overseas. However, outgoing calls will be impacted as any international call being made from South Africa will have to be prefixed by 00 and not 09 as from 16 January 2007. For example, after 16 January 2007, a call to the UK will be prefixed by 00 44 and not 09 44. Both 00 and 09 will be operational during the 16 October 2006 to 16 January 2007 parallel running period.
Letlape emphasised that no extra costs will be levied for using the 10-digit dialling system or in switching to 00 as the international dialling prefix.
"This national 10-digit dialling system is part of Icasa's numbering plan, and once implemented, it will increase number capacity especially in the metropolitan areas and bring fixed-line dialling in line with the 10-digit standard used by mobile operators," said Letlape.
According to Icasa, the Numbering Plan is both a national resource and a regulation "that presents the structure of the numbering scheme of the Republic and prescribed set of administration principles to be followed by all interested parties".
In addition, the numbering administration requires Icasa to establish a framework for numbering conventions that meets the future demands for the country's telecommunication services and ensures a seamless transition to a new competitive environment.
This framework for numbering conventions also needs to facilitate access to the telecommunications marketplace by making numbering resources available on an efficient and timely basis, and enable the assignment of numbers on a fair basis that is non-discriminatory, reasonable and equitable. This is to ensure that no industry segment or group of consumers or any technology is unduly favoured or disadvantaged.
In complying with Icasa's regulatory framework relating to the Numbering Plan, Telkom will engage in an extensive public awareness campaign aimed at ensuring that its customers are ready for the changes in the dialling system.
While most fixed-line users simply have to take cognisance of the use of area codes or the 00 international dialing prefix, certain consumers will have to make additional adjustments. These include the re-programming of POP numbers for dial-up internet access, re-programming of alarm systems connected to telephone numbers and the re-programming of BlockCall Plus, ForwardCall, SpeedDial and UrgentCall (with longer numbers).
A major campaign will also be undertaken to educate Phonecard customers on the change from seven to 10-digit dialing as well as the 00 international access.
"Being a customer-centric Company, an on-going campaign will be immediately launched to ensure a smooth transition to the changes in the dialling system for all our different groups of customers," concluded Letlape.
