Telecom service provider granted geographic number ranges

This means, says the company, that it will be able to compete more effectively with the incumbent operators by offering its customers geographic services in addition to the non-geographic services it currently provides on the 087 number range.

The company is said to be one of the first VoIP operators to receive geographic number allocations from ICASA. It will be 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.

"There never was any legal or practical reason for any VANS to be denied access to geographic number ranges. We are pleased that the regulator has recognised our right to provide geographic services to our clients following the recent conversion of our VANS licence to I-ECS and I-ECNS licences," said company MD Greg Massel.

"This move will greatly enhance our ability to compete with the incumbent operators. The next logical step will be for us to offer number portability for Telkom customers so that they can change service providers without losing their existing phone numbers," he added.

Massel said that the allocation of geographic number ranges to VoIP providers removes one of the last hurdles preventing large scale business and consumer uptake of VoIP services as a complete replacement for fixed line telephony.

Another of these obstacles recently fell by the wayside when VoIP providers made a transit agreement with Telkom that saw the appearance of the 27 87 prefix and made it possible for users to receive calls dialled from overseas.

"VoIP operators also now have the ability interconnect with each other as well as fixed and mobile network operators as well as the legal right to self-provide infrastructure," said Massel, who reckons the new development will enable his company to compete on a more equal footing with the incumbent providers through an enhanced offering comprising most of the services and benefits associated with traditional fixed lines, in addition to the lower costs and value-added services of a VoIP network.