23 January 2007

In just one day after the system became mandatory, Telkom reported that over 80 percent of their customers countrywide were using the new 10-digit dialling pattern.

This follows Tuesday's introduction of mandatory 10-digit dialling and the replacement of 09 with 00 as the international dialling prefix.

These changes in the dialling format are in line with the government'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 legal requirement prescribes mandatory ten-digit dialling and the replacement of 09 with 00 as the international dialling prefix," said the operator.

In terms of the 10-digit dialling system, the area code for an area, for example (012) for Pretoria must precede the seven digit telephone number, even if the caller and the person being called are both in Pretoria.

This is meant to increase the amount of available telephone numbers.

The new format also applies when customers are sending out faxes.

Emergency numbers such as 10111 and 10177, however, remain unchanged.

Telkom reminded PABX customers and those with dial-up internet connections to contact their suppliers in order to ensure compliance with the switch to 10-digit dialling.

From Tuesday, 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.

Source: BuaNews