Request to Delay Number Portability in South Africa

South Africa's MNP Industry Steering Committee has sent a letter of request to the telecoms regulator, ICASA to consider an extension of the implementation date of Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which was scheduled for 18 September 2006. The request for extension can be ascribed to the technically complex nature of Mobile Number Portability which requires new business processes to be designed and implemented between operators and service providers, between operators and operators and between operators and third parties.

The delay is largely due to the supply of the industry central reference database solution being several months late, with the result that all operators are equally delayed in commencing with vital Inter Operator Testing (IOT).

Local operator, Vodacom says that although a delay is regrettable it is in the interest of the public that the testing phase is extended to ensure that all the networks are able to activate a fully functional, seamless and uncomplicated customer experience. All internal systems of the three operators have been upgraded to be able to handle MNP, as well as the interfaces with the Service Providers and also the Service Provider systems.

The network operators are working in close consultation with ICASA and will announce a new implementation date as soon as possible."

Posted to the site on 13th September 2006