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Numbering

Overview

The National Communication Authority administers South Sudan’s telephone numbers. The Authority does this as part of its regulation of communications framework as stated in the National Communication Act 2012 enacted by Parliament.

It is the Authority’s duty, as required by the law, to publish the National Telephone Numbering Plan, setting out the telephone numbers available for allocation and any restrictions on how they may be adopted or used. 

NCA’s operations are guided by Procedures and Guidelines for the National Numbering Plan, Short Codes and USSD. The policy is the basis of the law and regulation. The policy and the guidelines are used for checking, guiding, and controlling numbering planning, short codes and USSD in South Sudan.

As part of NCA’s mandate, the authority manages communication resources including numbers. It further develops and administers the National Numbering resources for South Sudan in addition to providing guidelines on allocation and use of numbering resources, including Short Codes and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Services Data).

The Authority currently assigns categories of SMS short codes in blocks, while giving the assignee (mobile operator) the responsibility of undertaking secondary assignment of quick industry operation, partly because most of these codes are technically network-specific codes and are not based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – T E.164 standard.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

The NCA monitors all clients’ network performance, such as 2G, 3G and 4G site inspection and monitoring, through its Data Operation Center. The Authority also advises ISPs on service allocation so that civil populations receive services in an equal and equitable manner.

For ISPs that specifically provide internet services, the NCA oversees the operationalization of internet exchange points, the monitoring of local tariffs, and the localization of local content in order to reduce latency and investment costs. In addition, the Authority monitors two optical fibre companies and assigns bandwidth in the event of network degradation.

To facilitate NCA’s communication with members of the public, the Authority established a Public Call Center, where it receives complaints and inquiries via a toll-free number.

National Numbering Plan

  1. The Authority shall prepare a National plan for Numbering and Management of Internet domain names complying with the rules and procedures of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other international and regional standardisation bodies; provided that the Authority may amend such plans when and as necessary from time-to-time.
  2. The Authority shall assign block numbers and Internet domain names in a fair and equitable way for the benefit of all communication services and with the aim to adequately meet the needs of existing and future capacity in accordance with the approved plan.
  3. No Licensee shall transfer the assigned block numbers or Internet domain names without first obtaining the approval of the Authority. 
  4. The Customer Portability Number may be transferred from one operator to another upon the customer’s request and agreement by the operators involved. 
  5. The Authority shall prepare a postal code numbering plan and assign postal codes in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) or other recognized international or regional regulatory bodies and may amend such plan from time to time as necessary.
  6. Licensees shall comply with directives and orders issued by the Authority with respect to national numbering, number portability, Internet domain names and postal codes.

Obligations of Numbering Licensees

All licensees shall use communication numbers and addresses assigned by the Authority, in accordance with National Communication Numbering and Address Plan and ensure that resources are:

  1. utilised efficiently;
  2. limited to provision of communication services;
  3. utilised in manner that ensures communications systems and services are identified;
  4. utilised and paid for as prescribed by the Authority; and
  5. not transferred without prior written consent of the Authority.

Compliance with Numbering and Address Plans

  1. The licensee shall abide by and apply a numbering plan prescribed by the Authority.
  2. The shall, at least six months before prescribing a new numbering plan, give notice to licensees Authority may, before developing numbering plan, consult with licensees in respect of;
    • Arrangements for allocation and reallocation of numbers, within the initial numbering plan; and
    • Additions to or replacement of the initial numbering plan.
  3. The Authority and general public in the Public Media and any other media that the Authority considers appropriate.