Johannesburg, 09 Oct 2002
Telkom is aware of the rumours circulating regarding the supposed additional charges for failure to use the proposed 10-digit dialling code, but a spokesman says these rumours are nonsense.
An e-mail is doing the rounds claiming that Telkom is charging an additional 77c per call for failure to use the area code when dialling from a landline.
"We do know about this e-mail and have received a number of queries in this regard already, but the story is utter rubbish," says Andrew Weldrick, Telkom`s senior manager of media relations.
"These rumours are ridiculous, as our call costs are based around distance, not dialling codes. Any phone call within a 50km area is designated as a local call, while beyond that it is classified as a long-distance call, whatever the dialling code.
"We are encouraging callers to begin using the 10-digit method, as we hope they will then be comfortable with it once it is eventually implemented, but they certainly are not required to use it at present."
Weldrick says Telkom is waiting for the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) to draft regulations for this procedure, which will then have to be approved by communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.
He says the reason for the delay - the new procedure where all area codes must be dialled was originally supposed to become operational in May this year - is due to applications from certain industries, notably the security industry, that required more time to get their systems ready.
ICASA spokesman Kotli Molise says the organisation has already passed the regulations on to the minister, and all that is now required is ministerial approval. "However, even once the regulations have been passed, there will still be a six-month grace period to allow callers to get used to the new 10-digit system."
ICASA and Telkom say 10-digit dialling will standardise dialling and increase the number of available numbers in metropolitan areas.
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Callers get 10-digit dialling reprieve
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