Mozambique: Mobile phone users must register by 15 Nov 2010

According to an article on allafrica.com all users of pre-paid mobile phone cards in Mozambique must register their phone numbers by 15 November 2010. The news source is referring to a government decree which was issued last week, but has not yet been published in any of the media.
According to the decree all new users of pre-paid mobile phone cards in Mozambique must be registered at the moment they buy it. People who already have numbers will have to register them by 15 Nov 2010 (similar to the Rica Act in South Africa). If they fail to do so, their access to the mobile phone networks will be blocked. Registration has not yet started. Sometime in the next few days the authorities and the two companies (Mcel & Vodacom MZ) will announce the registration procedures to be used.

Cell phones in South Africa - frequency, SIMcards, phones etc.

South Africa has an extensive GSM network, working on the same frequency (operating on GSM 900 & GSM 1800) as the rest of Africa and Europe. Cellphones working on GSM 850 or GSM 1900 (frequencies used in the US) are not working in South Africa (as well as in all neighboring countries). The South African networks support GPRS countrywide; 3G, EDGE and HSDPA support is available in larger urban areas.

South Africa has four five cell phone providers:

• Vodacom
• MTN
• Cell C
• Virgin Mobile
• 8.ta (Telkom) UPDATE (15 Oct 2010)

Prepaid SIMCards: A South African SIMCard will require a SIM-unlocked GSM cell phone that supports the 900 frequency. SIMcards are available in almost all shops & malls and cost you between R1 to R3. This in not includung preloaded airtime obviously. So called "recharge vouchers" are available in almost all shops (checkout counter) as well. If your phone is not working on the South African GSM frequency, you can easily buy a cheap one in the shops. See the websites of the four providers for current rates. You should get a phone for around R300. As of 01 July 2009 all SIMcards in South Africa require to be registered. Click here to read what to do.

International calls: Calling overseas from your South African simcard will cost you a fortune. Rather make use of skype - it will safe you a lot!

Hostelworld: 1,000 FREE Travelnroam mobile SIMs up for grabs!

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This special offer starts at 00.01GMT on Tuesday 22nd September until stocks last. Terms and Conditions apply.

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South Africa: All SIMcards required to be registered. How to register a SIMcard as a tourist?

As from today, 01 July 2009, all SIM cards in South Africa require to be registered. Reason is the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Amendment Act (Rica) which "aims to help law enforcement agencies investigate and combat serious crime" (Justice Minister Jeff Radebe).
Therefore all cellphone service providers need to capture the customer’s cell number, full names, identity number and address (and verify the information) before they can activate a new SIM card.

Residents in South Africa need to present:

• Proof of identity: barcoded ID document, an ID card, temporary ID certificate, or passport

• Proof of physical address: any document that included one’s name and residential address, such as a bank statement, municipal rates, cellphone or retail account not older than 3 months, existing lease, rental or credit agreement, insurance policy, current TV or motor vehicle licence.

But what about tourist coming to South Africa?
Well, we at TravelComments.com contacted Vodacom & got the following answer:
Visitors to South Africa, who use their own home network's SIM card, such as Vodafone UK, Vodafone Australia, are not required to register these SIM cards.
However, when a visitor to South Africa opt to use a Vodacom Prepaid SIM card whilst travelling in South Africa they will be required to register this SIM card with Vodacom to have the SIM card activated on the network.
For the registration at a RICA agents, visitors will be required to provide the following information:

• cellphone number,
• last four digits on the SIM card,
• full name/surname (passport document), and
• an address where they will be staying during their visit.

There are no documents to be purchased - registration will be handled by any RICA agents, across all distribution channels in South Africa.