Independent telecommunications service provider Switch Telecom has introduced geographic numbering for its clients.
This proves small telcos can provide the same services as their big competition, says MD Greg Massel.
The Johannesburg-based company, which has been in existence since 2006, believes it is among the first to introduce geographic numbering.
Switch Telecom has an individual-electronic network service licence that gives it the same rights as Neotel and Telkom to provide such services.
Switch Telecom is now able to offer customers in Johannesburg (010), Cape Town (021), Durban (031) and Pretoria (012) geographic numbers with immediate effect.
"We are now able to compete more effectively with the incumbent operators by offering customers geographic services, in addition to the non-geographic services we currently provide on the 087 number range," Massel says.
Switch Telecom was one of the first VOIP operators to receive geographic number allocations from the Independent Communications Authority of SA. It is able to offer customers in Johannesburg access to 010 numbers, just as Telkom and Neotel are able to, for example, whereas it could only issue 087 numbers to its customers in the past. Numbers from other geographic regions will follow based on demand.
Massel says a major reason companies, in particular, may want a geographic number is that it identifies more closely with a specific region. However, individuals would be less likely to require such a service.
One day after launching the service, six or seven clients had signed up for it - mainly small and medium companies, Massel adds. "These are inclined to be small professional services firms, such as law or accountancy companies,"
He says a lot of education is still needed around geographical numbers among prospective clients, as many are not quite sure of the benefits and they are also inclined to believe they are more expensive than other forms of communications.
"This is not true. In reality, it is the same service. The introduction of geographic numbers is just a further step along the way of starting geographic number portability. Now that we can offer geographic number ranges to our clients, we expect to see many of them take up VOIP services to complete replacement for traditional fixed-line telephony services."
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