By Our Reporter
MTN Uganda has added 076 to its existing family of number ranges that include 077, 078, 031 and 039.
The number range was granted by the sector regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) allowing MTN customers to now acquire numbers with 076 prefix.
“We are now issuing new customers on the MTN network mobile numbers with the prefix range starting from 0760000000 to 0760999999,” MTN Chief Marketing Officer,” Somdev Sen revealed, adding that,“The New number range of 0760 is at the moment available to prepaid customers to connect to all our services just like we currently have on all our other number ranges.”
Key to note is that this development will have no effect on already existing numbers which can continue operating as they have.
“The existing prefixes and number ranges are not being phased out in anyway and customers can continue to use their numbers normally,” Somdev emphasized.
However, MTN has stopped selling 077 and 078 ranges as those are no longer available on the network which speaks to the telecom’s growing subscriber base.
Somdev however explained that customers can still get the old number ranges subject to their availability due to recycling.
Phone number recycling is the reintroduction of a deactivated/disconnected number into the pool of available numbers eligible for assignment to a new customer. This happens when the previous owner of the numbers has not used their line for any activity for more than six months and has not formally notified MTN of their intention and interest to keep that number.
To acquire a new number within in the new 0760 range, customers can visit the nearest MTN Shop or Duuka with their national ID and buy a new SIM card at the usual cost of Shs2000.