In 2 weeks time, the island’s mobile infrastructure will go through a major switch, requiring first of all, a change of habit in the life of probably every Mauritian. Prefixing the digit “5” in front of all mobile networks will be mandatory as from 1st September 2013 00:00hrs. The 8-digit numbering had been announced long time back and these days, a huge campaign is being conducted to remind everyone of the need to “5ing” each and every mobile number in their phones as well as in their minds.
Slowly but surely, there will be a wide change out there in the island. Just to name a few : business cards, web sites, adverts and etc need to be reviewed. And probably affecting those using their phone numbers as passwords…
Have you ever asked yourself why the number 5? 😛
(The picture is one of my original ideas, hope that you liked it)
Yashvinblogs 
I heard orange guys wrote an app for adding the 5 prefix and i have not used it. I am wondering if it caters for all orange mobile numbers (250,751-799, 918,etc…)
btw i just hate the orange ad saying ‘hey 5 moi plutard’ this is just noob… simply saying that orange mobile phone numbers should start with 5 is enough…
LikeLike
I hate that ad too. Does not make any sense!
LikeLike
In 50 years, “Hey mo 67890 plutard! — Orange” The fact that they didn’t cater for those very* old people (>80/90) who have to adjust themselves to this change and the way they’re sensitizing the population is purely bs.
If I personally, didn’t read the advert by ICTA, I would be exactly like those 90 ages peoples….
LikeLike
It is going to be a major exercise for a lot of people in business. I wonder if we will see apps to facilitate amending phone numbers in our mobile phones? Orange had mentioned that they would make such an app available to all users. As for 5 prefix, LOL, it might be the rack number of the switching at the server of the telephone exchange.
LikeLike
I heard about that orange app too but saw nothing till now. You can try the app made by this guy, Azagen. Available here for Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.azagen.Nou5
LikeLike
I wd need the google code app asap since if num changes my login will fail
LikeLike
Som many questions come in:
– Why only mobile numbers?
– When all numbers – including fax?
– What about internet wifi dongles?
– Why now, not 2 years ago?
Sorry, Eurange may charge me a fee just for asking…
LikeLike
Same number for all operators since “now” you will be able to keep your number and change operators 😀
LikeLike
Dodoland, c’est un plaisir!
LikeLike
Hahaha!!! Lol!!! did not see the pic earlier!!! Lol!!! Wai…xtra sa… so now my num will read 5 250 xxxx or 52 50 xx xx ? Lokks nicer when you have it by 2 non ? 😉
LikeLike
kifer pa ti met 0 par devant kuma la france ! zotte peur dire zotte p imite la france !! pff.. ti pou pliss zoli mo trouver !
LikeLike
Bann maha pl*k. Zis nimero portab ki vinn 8 chiffres. Tandi ki fixe res lor 7 chiffres. Be buze mem. Kifer pa buz tou. Dime mo 5 twa
LikeLike
Seman ene zaffaire, ziska lere mo pane comprend how it will change things right now.
Ouais, ok pu demain 😉
LikeLike
Sorry. Dime mo 7 twa 🙂
LikeLike
lol
LikeLike
“so that if the migration fails in some way or is delayed , we still have an operational communication line”
So you mean that, if you permit me to translate this to, say, a civil engineering context, when adding a third lane to the motorway, Eurange would be telling us: IF the shifting fails… 🙂
Can’t they PLAN to succeed in something so banal, for FCUK’s sake?
Just love it…
LikeLike
hahaha..well you know the saying that goes on here: if shit can happen, it will.
this doesnt escape in the civil engineering context too mate, when they do add a third lane somewhere on our roads, the road get blocked ;longuere lasemaine ‘ here. or the wrong planning occurs somewhere. Reminds me of the route to the south, they are building around LaFlora here and the new road (completely different layout from the existing one) was dark as hell without road marking at night. A real accident magnet. Well as i was saying, if shit can happen..
LikeLike
To be sincere, I still does not understand how 8 digits for mobile only will solve things and neither did the authorities explain their strategy here.
LikeLike
i still ‘do’! 😛
LikeLike
in other words, GIGO!
LikeLike
Kestion ki mo’nn tandé dan la-ri fek-la:
“Ki-férr devant, pa déryérr?”
LikeLike
No one noticed that this means the death to older phones, people are lazy and will not update 200+ contacts, they’ll prefer to buy a new phone use an app to do it.
LikeLike