In addition, once the SNO begins to operate, number portability should, in theory, significantly increase its chances of market success.

Webber says Cuasa is pleased that the industry finally has a decision with regard to Number Portability regulations which should pave the way for, and set in place strict dates by which, the porting of numbers will become available to users.

"Although we now understand that a draft Functional Specification was published for comment on 6 December last year, Cuasa was not specifically approached to provide comment. We are interested to discover which other user organizations, if any, were consulted on this matter.

"If no user organizations gave input to the now promulgated MNP Functional Specification, then SA users have essentially been sidelined from the process, leaving government and service providers as the only real contributors," says Webber.

"Bearing this possible lack of user consultation in mind, we find it interesting that prepaid Telkom customers appear to have been excluded from the definition of "subscriber" in terms of the new regulations.

"We hope that this does not mean that these users, who are often those with the least financial means, are excluded from the benefits of competition arising from number portability," he adds.