MTN SA ordered to cease blocking number porting

MTN South Africa has been ordered by a Johannesburg court to allow customers to keep their mobile phone numbers when changing telecoms provider, TechCentral reports. The decision was made after Cell C challenged MTN’s policy to block subscribers from retaining numbers if they didn’t apply for a transfer within a specific time frame. Graham de Vries, head of corporate services at Johannesburg-based MTN, said: ‘MTN takes note of the judgement and can confirm that we will comply with the contents,’ though the operator is planning to refer the matter to telecoms watchdog, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).