Basically, once Mobile Number Portability launches, you will be able to keep your existing cellular telephone number for life, if that's what you want. For many people changing their number is simply not an option. This is particularly true for people who run their business off their cellular phone, and would lose lots of patronage if their number had to change. Once Mobile Number Portability is launched, changing Service Providers and even Network Operators, and keeping your same mobile number, will become a reality.

What happens if I don't want to keep my number, but I want to change my Service Provider or my network? Mobile Number Portability will give people the option to keep their existing number when they change Network Operators and/or Service Providers. This certainly doesn't mean that once you have been given a mobile number, you absolutely have to keep this number for ever. If you want to change your number when you move Networks or Service Providers, this is no problem whatsoever.

The reason for this is that currently each network offers cheaper phone calls when you phone from the same network to the same network. To explain, calling from an MTN number to an MTN number is far cheaper than phoning from an MTN number to a Vodacom number. The same applies across all three cellular networks. But when Number Portability comes in, it is possible that when you dial an 083 number, for example, the person you are phoning might actually be on the Vodacom network, because they have ‘ported' their number from MTN to Vodacom. You may therefore be paying more for a phone call than you bargained on! We are confident that the relevant network operators will put processes in place to warn customers that they are about to make a phone call that will cost more than they anticipated. We will confirm this information as soon as it becomes available.

Obviously, each of the three cellular networks have had to make substantial changes to their systems to accommodate Mobile Number Portability. Currently, when you dial an 084 number, for example, the networks automatically know that this call must be routed to the Cell C network. When Mobile Number Portability comes into play, this will not always be the case.

The Service Providers need to change their systems to handle the full number range of Mobile Numbers. Remember that up until this point, each service provider was given their own number range. With Mobile Number Portability, Service Providers are required to be able to load and manage any Mobile Number that a customers wishes to transfer, or port. Also, Service Providers need systems to enable the porting process to take place. Because the legislative turnaround times for a Service Provider to answer a porting request is one hour for an individual line (as opposed to a corporate account), a large portion of the information management will need to be automated. There is obviously substantial development that is required in this regard.

The proposed date of the Mobile Number Portability launch has been changed till the 10 November 2006. This has not been finalised as this still needs to be Gazetted by the Government. We will advise you as soon as we are aware of the confirmed launch date.

The sanctity of your existing contract still stands. This means that ideally you would only decide to port your number once your contract with your existing Service Provider has expired, and you have given your written notice. It is very important to note that if you port mid-contract to another Service Provider, you will still be liable for outstanding period of your contract. Service Providers have the right to obtain payment for the outstanding contract period from you. The best route to follow therefore will be to call your existing Service Provider and find out when your current contract expires. If you are still within your contract term, you can ask your Service Provider to calculate your ‘roll-up' amount, which will be the amount payable by you to prematurely terminate your contract.

If you have made up your mind that you are definitely going to transfer your number to another Network and/or Service Provider, the first step is to decide which Network and Service Provider you want to use in the future. You then approach this Service Provider and sign the required forms with your new Service Provider. Once the new contract with your new Service Provider is signed, and the Service Provider is happy to take you on board, the Service Provider will put the request in on your behalf to get your number transferred to them. This transfer process can happen within a couple of hours, or up to 30 days in the future, should you so choose. It is important to note that if you proceed with the process defined above, by law your current (old) Service Provider is not allowed to make contact with you and try to win your business back. This route should therefore only be followed if you are resolved that this is the route that you wish to follow.

To your new Service Provider you will be a brand new customer. Because Service Providers compete, they do not share information about their subscribers with each other. It is therefore very likely that your new Service Provider will do a full credit check on you, and will require the same supporting paperwork that was requested from you when you signed up with your original Service Provider. Once this is in order, your new Service Provider will ask you to complete a form which will include the following information. This is the information that your new Service Provider will require to make a port request from your old Service Provider: The Consent Form, which shall be completed and signed by the person wanting to port (and account holder if the Subscriber requesting the port is not the account holder), prior to the Recipient issuing a Port Request, shall be in writing on a paper based form and include: * the number or numbers to be ported; * the Account Number with the Donor Service Provider; * the Subscriber's identification number; * the account holder's identification number, if not the same as the Subscriber *requesting the port; * the porting date; * the Subscriber's signature; * the account holder's signature if not the same as the Subscriber; * acknowledgement from the Subscriber that he or she has been advised by the *Recipient to collect any messages or any other information stored by the Donor *which may be lost when the number is ported; * acknowledgement from the Subscriber that he or she has been advised by the *Recipient that credit and unused usage allowances which are not portable will be *lost; * acknowledgment from the Subscriber that he or she has been advised that he or *she may still be liable in terms of any contract which he or she may have with the *Donor

The answer is yes. Service Providers take the full credit risk for all of their customers because even if a customer does not pay their Service Provider for their monthly charges, the Service Provider is obligated to pay the applicable Network Operator. If the Service Providers feels that credit risk is too high, may decline service applications for this, or for any number of reasons.

Your old Service Provider has one hour in which to notify your new Service Provider as to whether they have approved or declined your porting request. The approval process is therefore extremely fast. The actual porting of a mobile number will happen once a day, but you can request that your number is ported on any day, within 30 days from the date that you perform your porting request.

A Service Provider cannot refuse to allow you to move your mobile number across to another Service Provider, unless one of the following is applicable: *The number is excluded from number portability *For post paid subscribers, the number, account number and account holder *identification number do not match *The classification of the account does not match, for example a request is made *under the prepaid procedure for a post paid account *Subscriber is already subject to suspension of outgoing or incoming calls because *of failure to pay a bill *Number is already subject to a porting process *Number has already been ported in the last two months *Number is not valid on the donor service provider *For a corporate entity, the number, account number and corporate registration *number do not match, or the port request is unauthorised *The Recipient may refuse to import a number that would clash with another *number or code that is in use, or is planned to be used, in its network. *Any other reason agreed to by the Authority and notified to the Operators in writing As you can see, the old Service Provider will refuse a port request if the information that they have received does not match the customer information held on their database. If for example an Account Number is sent through, but the ID number attached to this Account Number does not match, the request will be declined. These checks and balances have obviously been put in place to ensure that there is no ‘finger trouble', and that Service Providers do not erroneously port the wrong customer.

When your new Service Provider requests your number to be ported to them, the only information that they will furnish to your old service provider will be your Account Number and your ID number. In terms of the legislation, Service Providers and Operators shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard the personal information of Subscribers and shall not disclose such information other than in terms of a court order or legislative requirement. However, remember that you will need to provide your new Service Provider with all of the information that they require to accept you as a new customer.

You might wish to change Network Operators because your coverage, call quality or clarity is lacking in your area of work, home or play. In this case, if you are with a Service Provider which offers you only one Network Operator (ie they are an Exclusive Service Provider to one of the Networks), then unfortunately you will have to change Service Provider as well as Network Opertor. However, if you are with a Service Provider such as Altech Autopage Cellular, which offers all three Network Operators, then your request can be processed by your existing Service Provider.

You will gain the products and services of your new Network Operator. If you are using cellular communications simply to make and receive calls and send SMS messages, then any of the three Network Operators will suffice. However, some Network Operators have better coverage and call quality in certain areas, and it is therefore worth your while to ensure that there is good coverage and capacity in the areas in which you work, live and play. Additionally, if for example, you do a tremendous amount of International travel, then it would be worth your while to verify that your new Network Operator can offer you international roaming in the countries to which you travel. If you are a heavy data user, then it is worth your while to cross check the data coverage and speeds of data from your new Network Operator. Make a note of your requirements, and then ensure that your new Network Operator can meet these needs before making your final decision.

If you are changing Network Operators, then you will lose all services to which you are currently subscribed, in favour of the services that your new Network Operator will provide. It is extremely important to remember that when you change Network Operators you will lose any ‘carry over' minutes that you currently have on your tariff. Carry Over minutes occurs if you are connected to a tariff that has inclusive free minutes, and you have not made use of all your inclusive free minutes. If you want to find out how many carry over minutes you currently have available then, Please contact your respective network as indicated below: Vodacom - Dial 126 MTN - Dial 258 Cell C - Dial 14302 You will need a brand new SIM card, and all your numbers on your SIM card will therefore be lost in this process. It is extremely important therefore that you make a note of your contacts before your porting request goes through. Remember also therefore that you will lose any saved voicemail messages, or any set-ups that you have done on your existing Network Operator.

The Mobile Number Portability legislation enables numbers to be ported across the Vodacom, MTN and Cell C networks. These networks will have to define the rules for porting of their mobile numbers between their networks. If all three networks make this provision, it is very important to note that irrespective of the fact that you are staying on the same Network Operator, you will still have to fulfil your contractual obligations with your Service Provider. You are therefore likely to need a brand new SIM card, and all your numbers on your SIM card will therefore be lost in this process. It is extremely important therefore that you make a note of your contacts before your porting request goes through. Remember also therefore that you may lose any saved voicemail messages, or any set-ups that you have done on your chosen Network Operator. Once again, even if you are only moving Service Providers, your line may be disconnected and reconnected, which means that you will lose all of the settings on your current network. If it is decided that the process will include a disconnection and a reconnection, then once again, even if you are porting to the same network, any carry over minutes that you may have accumulated will be lost when your Mobile Number is ported. The actual process for porting between Service Providers but remaining with the same network are still being ironed out, but we suggest that you always err on the side of caution, and back up all your messages and contact information. We'll obviously release updated information in this regard as soon as it becomes available.

If you still have an active contract with your old Service Provider, then you will need to settle your existing contractual obligations with your Service Provider. Depending on where you are in your contractual term, this might prove to be an expensive move. Obviously, if your contract with your existing Service Provider has expired, then you simply need to provide your written notice of cancellation of your contract to them, and then arrange your new contract with your new Service Provider. Because Service Providers are independent from each other, and compete heavily with each other, it is likely that some Service Providers will have their own products and services, and these will not be available from your new Service Provider. It is therefore very important that you look at what you are currently receiving from your Service Provider, and check that you will be able to receive a similar solution from your new Service Provider.

Legislation has once again stepped in and stated that Service Providers may not offer a deal to ‘porting' customers that is not available to other potential customers of that Service Provider. Whilst the offer that you will receive will no doubt be competitive, it cannot be more competitive than you would normally have received. The major gain that you will have is that you no longer need to change your mobile number to change your network and/or your service provider. You will therefore save a huge amount of time and money, because you no longer have to notify your colleagues, friends and family about your changed Mobile Number. Mobile Number Portability really does offer immense convenience.

This can only happen if your Service Provider offers the products and services of all three Network Operators. If your Service Provider only offers one network, then you will need to change Service Providers in order to change your network operator. Because of the fact that the contractual obligations are with both the Service Provider and the Network Operator, the sanctity of the contract will still have to hold, even if you are changing Network Operators within the same Service Provider. The existing contract will either have to be paid up before the port, or you can let your current contract run out and then effect the port within the Service Provider. Also remember that you will be disconnected off your old network and then reconnected onto the new network. You will therefore need a brand new SIM card, and all your numbers on your old SIM card will be lost in this process. It is extremely important therefore that you make a note of your contacts before your porting request goes through. Remember also therefore that you will lose any saved voicemail messages, or any set-ups that you have done on your existing Network Operator. Any carry over minutes that you may have accumulated will be lost when your Mobile Number is ported.

A port may only be reversed after 09h00 on the day after it was ported and no later than 2 months after the date the number was ported. In this case, you can only return to your old Service Provider. Remember that in this case both your old and new Service Providers must agree to the port reversal. You will therefore be at the mercy of the negotiations between the old and new service provider. It is therefore important that you do your research on your new Service Provider before deciding to move to them.

There are a large number of thing that you can consider when evaluating which Service Provider to move to. The first, and probably the most important, is to look at their customer service levels. If you have a problem, you certainly don't want to be left hanging for an extended period of time. You want your Service Provider to be able to resolve your problems or questions promptly. The second consideration is to consider how convenient that Service Provider is to your location. Are there service points close to you, if you need to visit this Service Provider face to face? The third consideration will be to look at how well the Service Provider considers your needs. If you walk into the Service Provider and they simply try and sell you the ‘offer of the day', walk away. Any Service Provider outlet worth their salt will spend some time with you analysing your needs, to ensure that they recommend the network, the tariff, the additional products and services, and the cellular telephone that will suit your requirements. In this case, it is often better to go to a Service Provider like Altech Autopage Cellular which offers all the services of all three Network Operators. Because we have access to the tariffs of all three networks, we can obviously give you the best recommendation across the board, rather than from only one of the Network Operators.

You can specify the date upon which you want your Mobile Number to be ported, provided that this is not longer than 30 days after you have put in your porting request. The Mobile Number Portability port will be done between 22h30 and 23h30 on the day upon which you have requested your port to take place. In the unlikely event that the Network Operator or Service Provider is unable to port you on the day that you requested, then your Mobile Number will be ported on the next available date.

You can specify the date upon which you want your Mobile Number to be ported, provided that this is not longer than 30 days after you have put in your porting request. The Mobile Number Portability port will be done between 22h30 and 23h30 on the day upon which you have requested your port to take place. In the unlikely event that the Network Operator or Service Provider is unable to port you on the day that you requested, then your Mobile Number will be ported on the next available date.

By law, your Service Provider and Network Operator are not allowed to make contact with you. Once you have approached your new Service Provider, your old providers are not allowed to contact you and attempt to win your business back.

Yes, the process is different, because the user of the Mobile Number is not the contract holder of the Mobile Number. If a corporate customer wants to port the following is required: · the name and registration number of the corporate; · the number or numbers to be ported; · the name and signature of the person authorised to act on behalf of the corporate. In the case of a corporate porting request, the old Service Provider is allowed to contact the corporate customer in order to verify the information.

Yes, the process is different, because the user of the Mobile Number is not the contract holder of the Mobile Number. If a corporate customer wants to port the following is required: * the name and registration number of the corporate; * the number or numbers to be ported; *· the name and signature of the person authorised to act on behalf of the corporate. In the case of a corporate porting request, the old Service Provider is allowed to contact the corporate customer in order to verify the information.

If you have a question about Mobile Number Portability which is not covered above, then please send us an e-mail to: porting@autopage.altech.co.za and we'll come back to you as soon as possible.

As of right now, you can chop and change network operators and/or cellular service providers each time your contract comes to an end. However, each time you change, you get a brand new mobile number, which is terribly inconvenient. This is due to the fact that each Service Provider has been given a number range from the network operators, and Service Providers cannot connect a number that is outside of their number range. Also, each network operator has been given their own number range being 082 for Vodacom, 083 for MTN and 084 for Cell C. But once launched, Mobile number portability will enable you to change your network and/or your service provider, and keep your same cellular telephone number. Mobile Number Portability will finally enable you as the customer to vote with your wallet, rather than being forced to stay with your current Service Provider, simply because you cannot afford to change your mobile number.