jul 26 2006

10 digit telephone numbers?

from october, all south africans will be required to dial the full ten digit telephone number, ie the usual telephone number plus the area code.

this is in order to create more telephone numbers because apparently available numbers are running out in gauteng. now what does that really help? it's not like they are creating new area dialling codes and potentially a ton more telephone numbers. if all numbers are taken in the 012 area code, how are more numbers going to be created by simply asking the citizens (or forcing them) to dial the telephone number plus the area code? can some-one please clarify this for me?

it seems to me that our telephone call costs are going to go up because we will no longer be making local calls, we'll now be making national calls. is it possible that icasa and telkom are in cahoots with each other to make as much money as possible before it's too late?

how is it possible that americans can continue to dial local telephone numbers when they have more people and more landlines than us?

Posted by sarah | ranting

comments

Chris M | 2006-07-29 01:30:38
I can't believe that they have finally got round to doing this. There was such a large hype about it and then it all fell away. Thanks for the FYI Sarah!
sarah | 2006-07-28 14:14:37
hmm, i didn't think of it like that. what i'd really like to know now is if i dial a local number with the area code, will i be charged local rates or national rates?
Ian | 2006-07-28 09:57:25
By asking you to dial the area code and the number it means, essentially, that someone is Gauteng could have the same telephone number as you just with a different area code. And because you need to dial the area code and the number, your new combined numbers will still be unique.

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