Keep your existing number

Why your number can’t move to Ansa

A number issued by your mobile network stays with that network: it can’t be moved across to become your Ansa number. Forwarding gets you most of the way. The number your customers know keeps working, and the calls come to your team.

Choose how to forward

Forward only when you can’t answer (recommended). Your phone rings first, exactly as it does today. If you’re busy, don’t answer, or your phone is off, the call moves to Ansa and your team’s phones ring, or the caller leaves a voicemail. Nothing changes for you, and no call is lost.

Forward every call. Your phone never rings for this number; every call goes straight to Ansa. Choose this when the number belongs to the business rather than to you.

Turn it on

On the phone with the SIM for your old number, open the phone app and dial one of these codes, putting your Ansa number where it says <Ansa number>. They are standard codes and work on Econet, NetOne and Telecel.

To forward only when you can’t answer, dial all three:

1. **61*<Ansa number># for when you don’t answer
2. **67*<Ansa number># for when you’re on another call
3. **62*<Ansa number># for when your phone is off or has no signal

To forward every call instead, dial **21*<Ansa number>#.

Each code should show a short confirmation from your network. Then ask someone to call your old number to check it reaches your team.

Turn it off

Dial ##002# to cancel all forwarding. Calls to your old number go back to ringing your phone only.

What to expect

• Calls you make show your Ansa number, not your old one. Customers you call back will see the new number, so start putting it on your cards, website and WhatsApp profile.
• The caller’s number usually comes through, but some networks don’t pass it on when forwarding. If they don’t, your team sees your old number, or no number, instead of the caller.
• Keep the old SIM active. Forwarding happens on your network, so it works with the phone switched off, but the SIM needs to stay valid and topped up.
• When forwarding only when you can’t answer, callers hear your phone ring for a while before the call moves to Ansa.
• WhatsApp stays on your old number. Ansa doesn’t change that.