ICASA blamed for number portability delays

By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent

Cape Town, 12 Sept 2006

Mobile number portability would be a reality now if the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) had not published the specifications for the system three months late, says MTN MD Maanda Manyatshe.

Speaking yesterday at the MTN Editors` Forum, in Cape Town, Manyatshe said: "Originally the specifications for the number portability database were supposed to be released by ICASA in January this year, but they only did it towards the end of March, but then insisted on sticking to the original implementation date in June."

The implementation of number portability is facing a second postponement as the system, developed by technology group Grintek, is still undergoing testing. The network operators have sent a letter to ICASA asking for the second implementation date of 18 September to be postponed to accommodate the testing.

However, Manyatshe feels a more realistic date would probably be around 20 November.

According to Manyatshe, the three network operators, MTN, Vodacom and Cell C, have established a company, Portco, to implement number portability. Each operator has contributed equally to the R300 million capital expenditure needed to set up the operation. No board has been established for the company as the process is being managed through a working group that includes representatives from the network operators and ICASA.

"The perception has been generated that the network operators, especially MTN and Vodacom, are dragging their heels with regard to number portability, but this is not true. We want to see the system up and running as soon as possible. However, a lot depends on what Grintek can achieve in the time allocated and the testing is difficult."

He said there is a big difference between testing a small batch of numbers and a batch of several million numbers.

Manyatshe said number portability was essential to the development of the South African cellular industry as it gave consumers a real weapon to ensure they received the best service and product offerings from the operators.

He said number portability would bring benefits to prepaid and postpaid customers. The cost to port a number would be in the range of R40 to R70 per number, he added.