1. Voice over IP (VoIP) Service Policy
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a telecommunications service that enables customers to make and receive telephone calls using an internet connection instead of a traditional fixed-line telephone network. Calls can be made and received using a compatible VoIP handset, IP phone, softphone application, or other supported device.
The VoIP service provided by Somangaye Internet is a standalone telecommunications service and does not include any of the following unless specifically stated otherwise:
- VoIP hardware or handsets
- Internet connectivity or broadband services
- Mobile or fibre data required to access the service
- Network equipment or installation services
Customers are responsible for ensuring that they have a compatible device and a stable internet connection in order to use the VoIP service.
The Somangaye Internet VoIP service may be used anywhere within South Africa, provided a suitable internet connection is available. The service is not restricted to a specific physical location, allowing customers to make and receive calls from virtually anywhere with internet access.
Call quality, reliability, and performance are dependent on the quality, stability, speed, and latency of the internet connection being used. Somangaye Internet cannot guarantee call quality where network conditions, customer equipment, or third-party internet services negatively affect performance.
2. Emergency calls
3. Numbering & porting
Numbers issued to you remain allocated in accordance with the numbering plan administered by ICASA. If you wish to port an existing number to or from Somangaye, porting is subject to the receiving and donor providers' processes and may take several working days to complete.
4. Call rates & billing
Call Charges
Call termination rates are charged according to the current Somangaye Internet VoIP tariff schedule. Please refer to the applicable Call Rates Table for the latest pricing.
Voicemail
Where voicemail functionality is enabled, voice messages left on your allocated telephone number will automatically be forwarded as audio attachments to the email address registered on your account.
Billing
The monthly subscription fee and any included call allowance for newly activated VoIP services will be prorated from the activation date until the end of the applicable billing month.
The VoIP service is billed monthly in advance and will continue on a month-to-month basis until cancelled in accordance with Somangaye Internet's cancellation policy.
Any unused included call allowance remaining at the end of a billing month will automatically roll over to the following month for a maximum period of three (3) consecutive months. Any unused call allowance that remains after this period will expire and cannot be reinstated, refunded, or exchanged for cash.
5. RICA Compliance Policy for VoIP Services
I. General
All Voice over IP (VoIP) services supplied by Somangaye Internet are subject to the requirements of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) and any applicable South African legislation.
By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you confirm that, where you are purchasing a VoIP service on behalf of another individual or organisation, you have informed the intended user of these Terms and Conditions and their obligations under RICA.
II. RICA Verification
All new VoIP services, including the porting of an existing telephone number from another service provider to Somangaye Internet, are subject to successful RICA verification before activation.
To complete the verification process, customers are required to provide:
- A clear and legible copy of a valid South African Identity Document (ID Card or Green Barcoded ID Book), or a valid Passport.
- Proof of the customer's current residential (physical) address.
Non-South African citizens may submit a valid Passport together with a valid South African visa or permit, where applicable.
All identification documents must clearly display the holder's photograph and be valid at the time of submission.
The required documentation must be uploaded during the application process to enable Somangaye Internet to complete the mandatory RICA verification.
III. Verification Process
The information and supporting documentation submitted will be verified using an authorised third-party verification service.
Should the verification process fail, Somangaye Internet will notify the customer and provide guidance on the steps required to resolve the issue.
No VoIP service will be activated, and no telephone number will be allocated or ported, until the RICA verification process has been successfully completed, irrespective of whether payment has already been received.
Personal information collected for RICA purposes will be processed in accordance with applicable South African legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Such information will only be used for lawful purposes, including compliance with RICA or where disclosure is required by law.
IV. Registered RICA User
The individual applying for the VoIP service or requesting the porting of a telephone number will be recorded as the registered RICA user for that telephone number.
Where the service is purchased on behalf of a business, an authorised representative must be nominated. That representative will undergo RICA verification in their personal capacity while acting on behalf of the business.
Customers are required by law to notify Somangaye Internet of any changes to their registered physical address and to ensure that their information remains accurate for a minimum period of five (5) years from the date the service is activated or for such period as may be required by applicable legislation.
Where the intended user is under the age of 18 years, the RICA verification must be completed by the individual's parent or legal guardian.
V. Required Documentation
A. Individual (Natural Person)
The following documentation is required:
- Valid Proof of Identity.
- Proof of Residential (Physical) Address.
B. Business Customer
The following documentation is required:
- Proof of Identity of the authorised representative.
- Proof of the authorised representative's residential (physical) address.
VI. Acceptable Proof of Identity
The following documents are accepted for identity verification:
- South African Green Barcoded Identity Book.
- South African Smart Identity Card.
- Valid Temporary Identity Certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
- Valid South African Passport.
- For non-South African citizens:
- Valid Passport.
- Valid South African Visa or Permit (where applicable).
VII. Acceptable Proof of Physical Address
The following documents are accepted as proof of residential address, provided they reflect the customer's name and are within the validity periods indicated:
- Lease Agreement (not older than 12 months).
- Municipal Account (not older than 3 months).
- Television Licence Statement (not older than 12 months).
- Telephone or Internet Service Account (not older than 3 months).
- Bank Statement/Confirmation Letter (not older than 3 months).
- Retail Store Account Statement delivered to the residential address (not older than 3 months).
Somangaye Internet reserves the right to request additional documentation where necessary to comply with RICA, prevent fraud, or satisfy any legal or regulatory requirements. Documents that are illegible, incomplete, expired, or suspected to have been altered may be rejected, and additional verification may be required before the service can be activated.
6. Equipment
VoIP handsets or ATA adapters supplied by Somangaye must be used with the configuration provided. Using unsupported or misconfigured equipment may result in call quality issues that fall outside our support scope.
7. Service dependency
VoIP calling depends on your underlying internet connection. An outage, congestion, or degradation on your Fibre or Mobile/Home Internet line will affect VoIP call quality and availability in the same way it affects other internet-based services.