Gavin Dudley
With the recent media emphasis on global telecommunications, meaning that more people around the world are in touch more of the time, we could reasonably expect our cellphones to continue working wherever we are in the world.
Sadly this is still not the case, though this is not a limitation of telecommunications technology, but of virtual commercial boundaries and landlocked laws.
Yes, using a system called “international roaming”, your cellphone can be made to make and receive calls in almost any country in the world. But prepare for red tape and a slew of phone calls, faxes, and a major dent in your bank balance.
How does it work?
The telecommunications language that your phone uses to “speak” to, or connect to, the cellular network in South Africa is global system mobile (GSM ).
Competing standards for cellular telephony have hindered the growth of networks almost everywhere else in the world but in South Africa we were fortunate indeed to have our first and only cellular networks utilise the highest-quality GSM communications standard. This means that for your GSM phone to work elsewhere in the world it must be able to “speak”, or connect to other GSM networks.
Both South Africa’s network operators, Vodacom and MTN, have entered into agreements with GSM cellular networks around the world, from Austria to Zimbabwe and from Iceland to Reunion, to allow you to connect to these networks locally. Currently both networks offer GSM roaming on more than 100 networks in nearly 70 countries. Ironically the United States offers some of the weakest GSM coverage, since most of its networks still use an outdated analogue cellular system.
How to get connected for “roaming”
Simply contact your service provider (not Vodacom or MTN who are network operators, but the people who send you your monthly cellular bills) and request that your account be “unblocked” for global roaming. Most service providers will not act on your telephone call but will offer to fax or mail you forms to fill out. Once these have been completed and returned (by fax or mail) your phone can be “unbarred” for global roaming in about 24 hours.
Many service providers also offer the relevant forms through their websites, and free call-in services and some service providers might also require a deposit, because roaming bills can easily get out of control.
These forms normally require dates for the period you will be outside the country and a list of countries you will be visiting. Normally you will be notified when the roaming services have been activated.
Once you arrive at your destination, you simply instruct your phone either to automatically select a working GSM network, or to display the GSM networks available to you.
Making calls while outside the country
To call another phone anywhere in the world the basic procedure remains the same. You have to dial the exit code for the country you are calling, followed by the area code and telephone number. If you needed to call Johannesburg, you would need to dial the international exit code for South Africa, followed by the area code (without the zero), followed by the local number; for example, +27, then 11 and then 729-5422. This same system would apply for making calls to any country from any other country (other than South Africa, of course).
Calls made are charged at the rate of the network you are logged into plus a roaming fee from your South African service provider. All these fees will appear on your regular cellular bill and are paid in the normal way in South African rands.
Receiving calls while outside the country
Anybody will simply dial your cellphone number exactly as before and will automatically have their call redirected to your phone wherever you are in the world, without incurring any additional costs to themselves.
To call a South African cellphone from outside the country you would dial the exit code for South Africa, then the cellular network prefix (without the zero), then the subscriber’s number (last seven digits); for example, +27 83 293-7865.
The simple rule of thumb is that you will pay for all calls received, though in effect you only pay for the (most expensive) international leg of the call, from the time it leaves South Africa. This means that every call made to your cellphone number, even calls from the country you are in, have to get redirected from South Africa, and you will always pay for the portion from South Africa to your present location.
How to cut costs on your roaming bills
Before leaving the country ask your service provider for call barring on your phone. This will prevent you from receiving any calls at all, but will still allow you to make calls anywhere in the world.
Use your voicemail more effectively by following these simple guidelines:
l Set up your cellphone to redirect all incoming calls straight to your voicemail box. These can then be cleared periodically at a time which suits you and eliminates any attempts by your network to redirect calls to you overseas. Instructions for setting up this standard facility differ slightly, though detailed instructions are normally included with your subscription, on websites, and via toll-free call-in services.
l Using normal voicemail facilities you stand to incur multiple fees. First you will pay for the international leg of the call to your phone, and secondly, if you are not available or not logged on to a working network, you will have to make an international cellular call to collect the associated voicemail message.
l Clearing your voicemail will require that you make an international cellular call, complete with the dialing code for South Africa, whereupon you will be prompted to punch in your number and voicemail password.
For more information about cellphones go to PCReview Online at