Pretoria –The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has published the Draft Numbering Plan Fifth Amendment Regulations, 2026 (Draft Numbering 5th Regulations), for public comment under Chapter 11 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2005.
The amendments follow the Numbering Plan Fourth Amendment Regulations, 2026 (Numbering 4th Amendment Regulations”), published in Government Gazette No. 55631 which sought to standardise the recycling of mobile numbers across the electronic communications sector, promote the efficient use of South Africa’s numbering resources and strengthen consumer protection.
In the main, the Draft Numbering 5th Regulations aim to establish a mobile subscriber registration regime in South Africa that enhances consumer protection; and improve the Authority’s numbering resource management, and its regulatory enforcement capabilities against unauthorized use of mobile numbers. The biometric verification requirement for assigning mobile numbers will give effect to the Numbering Plan Second Amendment Regulations, 2023, published in Government Gazette No. 48328.
The Authority introduces a mandatory verification of subscriber’s biometric data for both new and existing subscribers, when activating or reactivating mobile numbers, and when a SIM swap is requested; a limit on the number of mobile numbers assigned to a subscriber by licensees; a limit on the active period of mobile numbers assigned to visitors to South Africa to support efficient use of numbering resources and improve accuracy in industry reporting.
The Draft Numbering Plan Fifth Amendment Regulations, 2026, have been published for public comment. Interested parties have 30 days from the date of publication to submit written representations
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