MTN has been ordered by a Johannesburg court to allow customers to keep their phone numbers when leaving for South African telecommunications competitors.
The policy of Africa’s biggest wireless operator by sales to block subscribers from retaining numbers if they did not apply to transfer them within a certain time frame was challenged in the city’s high court by rival Cell C, South Africa’s third biggest mobile phone company.
The court ruled in Cell C’s favour on Tuesday, according to legal documents.
“MTN takes note of the judgment and can confirm that we will comply with the contents,” Graham de Vries, head of corporate services at Johannesburg-based MTN, said in e-mailed comments.
The company will refer the matter to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the industry regulator, he said.
MTN shares declined by 1,8% to R120,35 as of 4.04pm in Johannesburg. The stock is down by 9,4% this year, compared with a 1,9% gain at crosstown rival Vodacom. — (c) 2016 Bloomberg LP