Primary briefing · Gazette
high impact 54930 · 3997 · 2026-07-01
ICASA Numbering Plan Fourth Amendment Regulations — mandatory mobile number recycling regime
Effective from
01 Jul 2026
ICASA has published the Numbering Plan Fourth Amendment Regulations, 2026 (Notice 3997, Gazette 54930), which standardise the recycling of mobile numbers across all South African mobile network licensees. The regulations introduce a 60-day inactivity trigger based on a new defined term 'Revenue Generating Activity,' after which licensees must notify prepaid subscribers of intended deactivation. A mandatory 30-day grace period follows, during which at least two reminders must be sent (including one the day before deactivation). Subscribers may apply for an exemption valid for 183 calendar days. Once deactivated, numbers must be quarantined for one month before re-entering the available pool. Postpaid subscribers are expressly excluded from the deactivation trigger. The regulations took effect on 1 July 2026, with a six-month transitional period for licensees to implement the necessary system configurations — meaning full compliance is required by approximately 1 January 2027.
Who is affected
Mobile network operators (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom)MVNOs and resellers (e.g. FNB Connect)Telecommunications in-house counsel and regulatory teamsConsumer-facing businesses reliant on mobile number continuityFinancial services providers using mobile-linked services What this means for practitioners
Telecoms in-house counsel must initiate compliance gap analysis against the new recycling timelines and notification obligations immediately.
Network operators must configure systems to detect 60 consecutive days of inactivity, trigger deactivation notices, enforce the 30-day grace period with at least two reminders, and process subscriber exemption applications.
Implement a 1-month quarantine process for deactivated numbers before reassignment.
Full compliance required by approximately 1 January 2027 — build this into project timelines now.