Callers fail to observe numbering plan

By Damaria Senne for Telkom
Johannesburg, 13 Dec 2006

The majority of South Africans are not dialling 10 digits when they make fixed-line telephone calls, says Telkom.

According to the fixed-line operator's tracking mechanism, only 23.94% of the total local calls made in the tracked regions were made using 10 digits, as required by the new numbering plan prescribed by the Independent Communication Authority of SA.

The new numbering plan, which requires that callers always use an area code when making local and national calls, goes into effect on 16 January.

As an intermediary phase, Telkom introduced a parallel system, which enables fixed-line subscribers to dial locally with or without using an area code, on 16 October. This aims to encourage South Africans to make 10-digit local calls, while at the same time giving them the opportunity for their calls to get through if they do not use an area code.

Telkom's tracking mechanism aimed to identify usage of this dialling and identify problem areas. It showed Gauteng residents made the highest number of 10-digit phone local calls in November, with 37.81% of local calls made in Pretoria using 10-digit numbers. Of the 23 435 local calls in Vereeniging, 34.57% used 10 digits.

Johannesburg did not do as well as the other two cities, with only 23.47% of the 206 637 calls made in that city using 10-digit numbers.

Bloemfontein did marginally better, with 27.5% of the 34 199 being 10-digit calls. Durban came in at 20.1%, Cape Town at 11.46% and Port Elizabeth at 9.96%.

A Telkom spokesman says the low usage of the 10-digit number system is of concern to the fixed-line operator, as the parallel system ends on 16 January. From that time, misdialled calls will be routed to an announcement that requests callers to dial 10 digits when making local calls.

The announcement service will continue until 16 March, after which misdialled calls will be routed to a "number unavailable" tone, she says.

Part of the challenge may be that consumers are unaware they should be using area codes when making local calls, she says. As a result, Telkom will launch a radio, TV and print campaign to educate the public about the new number dialling plan and how it affects them, she says.