Vox Telecom has applied to the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) for geographic numbers that have traditional been held by the incumbents.
Alternative telecoms companies, such as Vox, have been slowly trying to consolidate their position in a market dominated by large players. However, according to Vox, gaining the right to use geographic numbers, like 011 and 012, is likely only to change perceptions around these businesses.
Vox and other voice-over-IP (VOIP) competitors have been assigned the 087 range of numbers that were traditionally used for competition entries and call sex lines. “A lot of companies understandably blocked their PABXs from dialling these numbers and in many cases these dialling rules still apply, or the stigma around 087 numbers still exists,” explains Vox chief commercial officer Murray Steyn.
He says having geographic numbers helps the alternate players and value-added network service providers (VANS) shake that perception.
However, he adds that the one tangible benefit of having the number range lies with the expected implementation of geographic number portability. The process will allow businesses and consumers to switch providers without having to change their numbers.
“Remember, the old VANS historically built their businesses on service as their only differentiator from the incumbents. Now that some of those barriers are coming down and we are getting access to things like numbers, the alternate telcos in general are going to benefit, as well as consumers who have had to put up with bad service for too long,” explains Steyn.
While the company has applied for the geographic number range, ICASA says it has not yet received an application from the company. Steyn says the company is checking with the authority to see whether the application was overlooked or misplaced.
ICASA was not available to confirm the matter at the time of publication.
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