Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005) Regulations Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020 1. Definitions

 

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise indicates, a word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have the meaning so assigned—

 

"Act"

means the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005) as amended.

 

"access code"

means a short non-geographic number that is used as a prefix to other numbers to access electronic communication services.

 

"allocated"

means the status of a number as stipulated in regulations 14, 16 and 17 of these Regulations immediately after an allocation of the number.

 

"allocation"

means the issuing of a number(s) or service code(s) by the Authority to a licensee whereby the latter is able to assign the number(s) or service code(s).

 

"assigned number"

means a number that is issued to an end-user by a licensee.

 

"assignment"

means the issuing of a number(s) or service code(s) under relevant terms and conditions by a licensee or

 

"bulk Short Message Service(SMS)/Multi Media Service(MMS)"

means a subset service of Machine Related Services (MRS) which comprises of communication, sent in large volumes, that originates from a device or machine to other devices or machines and from a device or machine to persons.

 

"calling line identification"

means a facility that permits any person or licensees to transmit accurate originating caller identification information. Caller identification information being the calling party’s assigned number.

 

"communication"

means the use of electronic communications services that is originated through the input of a number.

 

"country code"

means the combination of one, two or three digits identifying a specific country or countries in an integrated numbering plan, or a specific geographic area assigned by the ITU-T in accordance with Recommendation E.164,Telephone network and ISDN Operation, Numbering, Routing and Mobile service.

 

"geographic number"

means a national number that is used to provide a geographic service, where the first three (3) digit of its structure contains geographic significance.

 

"geographic significance"

means the geographically indicative numbers that indicate the geographic location.

 

"harmonised number"

means a number used to provide a service meeting a common description, as authorized by the Authority.

 

"Inbound services"

means a service used only to receive communication.

 

"international prefix"

means a combination of digits to be dialled by a caller making a call to a recipient in another country.

 

"ITU TSB"

means the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union.

 

"length"

means the quantity of digits that constitutes a number.

 

"machine related number"

means a non-geographic number that is used to provide a machine related service.

 

"machine related service"

means a service whereby:

 

"mandated number"

means a receiving number to which communications must be routed irrespective of the electronic communication network used in originating the communications.

 

"mass calling service"

means a service whereby instantaneous, high volume traffic that is routed to one or more destinations.

 

"mobile number"

means a non-geographic number used to provide a mobile service.

 

"mobile service"

means a service as defined by the National Radio Frequency Plan developed by the Authority in terms of section 34(2) of the ECA.

 

"national number"

means a 10-digit number to be dialled including the national prefix.

 

"non-geographic number"

means a number that is used to identify a type of a service and has no geographic significance.

 

"number"

means a sequence of digits.

 

"numbering plan"

means a scheme of identification by numbers prescribed in these Regulations or other regulations made by the Authority for ensuring that electronic communications are correctly and efficiently routed to their intended destination.

 

"originating number"

means a number that identifies to the recipient of communication the point at which the communication is originated.

 

"originator"

means a person or device originating a communication through the input of a number.

 

"premium rate number"

means a non-geographic number that is used to provide a premium rate service.

 

"premium rate service"

means a service provided by means of premium rated numbers or short codes in level 3 and 4, where the charge is higher than standard rate and in some instances, where a portion of the charge is passed to a premium rate service content licensee, irrespective of the originating electronic communications network used.

 

"licensee"

means a person or entity that has an individual electronic communications services (I-ECS) using numbers from the numbering plan.

 

"protected"

means the status of a number that has not been released for allocation by the Authority.

 

"receiving number"

means a number that identifies where a communication, through the input of the number, the point at which the communication should be received.

 

"recipient"

means a person or device that can receive a communication.

 

"release"

means a process where the Authority publish a notice indicating numbers to be released.

 

"released"

means the status of numbers which permits licensees to—

 

"reservation"

means a temporary allocation of number(s) by the Authority to a licensee. Numbers allocated under this provision cannot be assigned by the licensee.

 

"reserved"

means the status of a number(s) immediately after approval of a reservation.

 

"routing"

means the conveyance of communications originated or received at points identified by numbers.

 

"service code"

means a short code that may be a receiving number for a service.

 

"short code"

means any non-geographic number less than 10 digits in length.

 

"status"

means, 'protected', 'released',  'allocated' or 'reserved'.

 

"supplementary code"

means a number that begins with '*' or ‘#’.

 

"toll free number"

means a non-geographic number that is designated to provide a toll free service.

 

"toll free service"

means a service such that for every communication made available, no charge is incurred by the callers, irrespective of the electronic communication network used in originating the communication.

 

"usage condition"

means a restriction in these Regulations or other regulations made by the Authority on the ways in which numbers may be used.

 

"VoIP number"

means a non-geographic number used to provide a VoIP service.

 

"VoIP service"

means the provision of unmanaged voice communication services over the Internet Protocol (IP).