Telkom, Neotel test GNP

By Damaria Senne for Telkom
Johannesburg, 11 Mar 2008

Geographic number portability (GNP) has taken a step forward, as Telkom and Neotel test systems for the implementation of block number portability.

The operators are also developing an ordering system specification that will see them implement individual geographic number portability, says Telkom acting group executive for corporate communication Nabintu Petsana.

Petsana could not give a deadline for when GNP would be implemented. "From Telkom's perspective, GNP should take effect subsequent to the successful completion of testing between Neotel and ourselves," she says. "A mutual date has yet to be agreed upon by the parties involved."

Another decision that is still pending is whether the two fixed-line operators will use the services of the Mobile Number Portability Company, which was formed to manage the mobile number portability database on behalf of the mobile operators.

Petsana says Telkom and Neotel are investigating all possibilities, including the use of the Mobile Number Portability Company.

She also notes that the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has promulgated all the necessary regulations for GNP. This includes the functional specifications, which were not included in the number portability regulations published in September 2005.

"Once Telkom and Neotel have finalised the ordering system specification, it will also be published by ICASA," says Petsana.

Full service provision

IDC programme manager for communications in Africa Richard Hurst says South Africans should not expect a huge impact from GNP. "When we look at how mobile number portability worked out, we shouldn't get our hopes too high."

The implementation should be easier, because there are fewer numbers and, therefore, less onerous database management, he notes.

The biggest winners will be value-added network service providers (VANs), which will now be able to compete more effectively with Telkom, he says.

Internet Solutions (IS) manager Greg Hatfield says GNP will allow VANs such as IS to provide a full telecommunications service to customers.

"We've got compelling value proposition for outbound calls, but for inbound calls, customers are not willing to change their numbers."

GNP will remove this obstacle requiring Telkom to provide inbound calls, as customers will no longer need to change their phone numbers, he says.

Hatfield foresees GNP first being implemented between Telkom and Neotel, with porting between the two operators and VANs as a second phase.

"If they asked that we contribute to the process now, it would be tantamount to asking us to be part of the number portability consortium. They'd rather proceed on their own to protect their business."

Hatfield also notes that no special technology is required to enable portability between Telkom, Neotel and the VANs.