Canada now open to Vodacom subscribers

Johannesburg, 01 Oct 1999

Vodacom`s South African subscribers can now make and receive calls using their existing cellular phone numbers in all major towns and cities of Canada.

This comes after Vodacom concluded a comprehensive international roaming agreement with Canadian GSM cellular operator Microcell.

"Digital roaming with Microcell means life will be a lot easier for the many Vodacom subscribers who travel to Canada," said Joan Joffe, Group Executive (Corporate Affairs) of Vodacom.

Previously, subscribers were not contactable on their existing cellphone numbers, as their SIM cards were not compatible with the analogue Canadian systems.

Microcell uses the GSM 1900mHz digital system and not the GSM 900mHz digital system employed by Vodacom. However, both technologies are similar and subscribers can either insert their Vodacom SIM cards into GSM 1900mHz handsets or they can roam using dual GSM1900/900mHz handsets which are available in South Africa.

For details regarding the availability of 1900mHz cellular handsets, subscribers should contact their service providers.

"It is significantly cheaper for cellphone users to take their cellphones abroad than pay the inflated prices hotels charge for international telephone calls," said Ms Joffe.

Vodacom subscribers are now able to make and receive calls on their cellphones on 120 international networks in 76 foreign countries.

Subscribers who intend roaming should notify their service providers two weeks prior to their departure so that international roaming can be enabled on their cellphones and international calls unbarred.

Vodacom`s United Kingdom partner, Vodafone AirTouch Plc, became the world`s first mobile phone network operator to achieve live roaming in one hundred countries across the globe in August. Vodafone currently has roaming agreements with 212 networks around the globe.

The world`s first international roaming call was made in October 1991 between Vodafone in the UK and Telecom Finland, with the first roaming agreement signed between the two companies in June the following year.

Vodacom

International roaming: A service offered by Vodacom whereby subscribers travelling overseas are (in most countries) able to take their cellphone with them. They are always able to take their Vodacom SIM cards with them, meaning they are contactable on their existing cellphone numbers and pay for their calls in rands on their return to South Africa.

GSM: The Global System for Mobile Communications, a digital cellular standard operating in the 900 mHz, 1800 mHz and 1900 mHz radio spectrum.

Tariffs when logged onto Microcell:

Call within Canada: R4,39 / minute

Call to South Africa: R14,14 / minute

Incoming call: R8,14 / minute