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Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)

Regulations

Numbering Plan Amendment Regulations, 2020

7. Withdrawing numbers

 

(1) Numbers that have status ‘released’, ‘allocated’ or ‘reserved’ may be withdrawn by the Authority only if—
(a) the numbers have been used in ways contrary to their usage conditions; or
(b) the numbers or part thereof have not been assigned one (1) year after being allocated; and
(c) the reservation period has expired and the licensee has not requested for an allocation of the same numbers.

 

(2) When withdrawing numbers, the Authority shall give due regard to the following factors—
(a) the need to avoid inconvenience and disproportionate cost effects vis-à-vis the benefits of the withdrawal;
(b) the requirement to ensure non-discrimination between licensees; and
(c) maintenance of consumer protection in relation to a consumer’ right to beneficial use of numbers.

 

(3) Any withdrawal of numbers shall be subject to—
(a) notification and consultation with the affected licensee(s) about the intended withdrawal at least 6 months before the withdrawal; and
(b) publication of a notice in the Government Gazette about the withdrawal.

 

(4) In the case where the Authority notifies a licensee in writing about the withdrawal of the numbers that are released or that are allocated to the licensee, the licensee must—
(a) refrain from assigning any of the numbers that are not already assigned;
(b) inform all persons to whom the numbers are already assigned about any replacements for the numbers—
(i) at least 6 months before the withdrawal if it affects numbers for business subscribers; and
(ii) at least 6 months before the withdrawal if it affects numbers for residential subscribers.
(c) introduce a period of 3 months parallel running, during which both those numbers and any migration to new numbers can be used; and
(d) supply audible or visible indications about any replacements for the numbers until the Authority withdraws the numbers.

 

(5) Numbers have status ‘protected’ immediately after the Authority withdraws them.

 

(6) The withdrawal of numbers does not necessarily require the withdrawal of all the numbers that were allocated or reserved at the same time.