/ 23 March 2000

CELL PHONES GET NEW NUMBERS

THE SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on Thursday opened the 072 and 073 telephone subscriber number ranges to Vodacom and MTN. Announcing its decision, Satra said that the new lines will alleviate a desperate need for additional cellular subscriber numbers. Initially only the 0721 and 0722 access codes will be open to Vodacom and the 0731 and 0732 codes will be open to MTN, providing each of them with an additional two million subscriber numbers to be used exclusively for pre-paid customers. “The new access code 07, as contemplated in the national numbering plan to be prescribed by Satra, will enable mobile cellular operators to extend their numbering capacity from the existing 08 ranges,” Satra said.