ICASA Calls for Comment on Draft Amendments to Numbering Plan Regulations
Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has gazetted draft amendments to the Numbering Plan Regulations under the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, with public comments due by 27 November 2026.
In terms of section 68, read with section 4, of the Electronic Communications Act, No. 36 of 2005, the Authority is empowered to prescribe and administer the national numbering plan for electronic communications networks and services. First promulgated in 2016, the Numbering Plan Regulations govern the allocation, reservation, assignment, and transfer of numbering resources in South Africa.
While the regulations have undergone four previous amendments since 2016, no consolidated official version has been issued by the Authority. The newly proposed amendments introduce further adjustments to the assignment, audit, and operational conditions imposed on electronic communications service (ECS) and electronic communications network service (ECNS) licensees managing allocated numbering blocks.
What this means for you, your business, or your clients
- For yourself: Regulatory and technology lawyers must audit existing numbering portfolios against the newly proposed conditions to identify potential compliance gaps ahead of the 27 November 2026 submission deadline.
- For your business: Licensed telecommunications and VOIP providers must review their active and reserved numbering blocks to evaluate whether the proposed rules introduce revised surrender, reporting, or fee requirements.
- For your clients: Corporate clients operating non-geographic numbers, toll-free lines, or machine-to-machine numbering ranges should be advised on potential numbering plan adjustments that may impact long-term telecommunications routing and contract terms.
Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/communications-input-sought-on-amendments-to-numbering-plan-regulations