What Is an 087 Number? A South African Business Guide

An 087 number is a South African non-geographic phone number. It isn't tied to a town or area code like 011 (Johannesburg) or 012 (Pretoria), and it isn't a mobile number. It is designed for internet-based (VoIP) phone systems, so it works from anywhere your phone system can connect to the internet.

For a business, that means you can present one national-looking number on your website, invoices and vehicles. Calls can then ring at any office, at home or on a mobile app, wherever your staff are working.

What does 087 mean in a South African phone number?

South African numbers are grouped by their first digits, and the prefix tells you what kind of number it is. The 087 prefix belongs to the non-geographic range used mainly with VoIP services. Callers dial it the same way they dial any other ten-digit number, for example 087 xxx xxxx.

Because there is no area code, the number says nothing about where you are. A business in Centurion, Cape Town or Durban can all use one, and a customer can't tell the difference by looking at it.

087 vs geographic, mobile, 0860, 0861 and 0800 numbers

People often confuse the non-geographic ranges. This table gives the broad picture. Call costs depend on the caller's own operator, so treat it as a guide to what each number is for, not a price list.

What is a 0860 or 0861 number?

These are also non-geographic business numbers, and you will see them on the contact pages of banks, insurers and other large companies. The idea is that the caller pays a set rate wherever in the country they are. They are a different range from 087, and which one suits you depends on how you want callers to be charged.

Is an 087 number toll free?

No. A toll-free number in South Africa starts with 0800, and the business pays for the call. An 087 number is a normal chargeable number for the person calling. If your customers expect free calls, for example on a complaints line, 087 is the wrong fit. If you want a national number without the cost of a toll-free line, it's a sensible one.

Who uses an 087 number?

The businesses that get the most from an 087 number are those that don't want their phone number tied to one building:

• Multi-branch businesses that want a single number for every branch instead of a different area code for each.
• Small businesses and start-ups that want a professional landline-style number without a physical office line.
• Remote and hybrid teams, because the number follows the phone system, not the premises.
• Sales and support teams that want a dedicated number for a campaign, product or department.
• Companies that move offices and don't want to change their number and reprint everything each time.

A local business that depends on people searching for it nearby may still prefer a geographic number, because an area code shows customers it is local. Many businesses use both: a geographic number for local presence and an 087 number for national contact.

How does a business get an 087 number with a Cloud PBX?

An 087 number is a number, and a number only does something once it is connected to a phone system. With a hosted Cloud PBX, the number is linked to your PBX, and the PBX decides where each call goes. The setup usually looks like this:

1. Decide what the number is for. Is it your main line, a sales line or a campaign number? This determines where the calls should ring.
2. Choose a new number or keep your existing one. A new 087 number is quickest. If your published number is on a different range, you can ask about moving it across instead (see the porting section below).
3. Get the number from your provider. Telecloud sells 087, geographic and mobile numbers on its phone numbers page.
4. Set up your extensions. Each person, desk phone or app that should receive calls needs an extension on your Cloud PBX.
5. Route the incoming calls. Point the 087 number at an extension, a group of extensions or a menu, and decide what happens after hours.
6. Test it before you publish it. Call the number from a mobile and from a landline, and check that the call rings where you expect and the caller hears the right greeting.

Once the number is live, update your website, email signatures, Google Business Profile and printed material so customers see one consistent number.

Can I port my number to a cloud phone system?

If you already have a number your customers know, you probably don't want to change it. Number porting moves an existing number from your current provider to a new one, so the number stays the same and the call routing changes behind it.

At Telecloud, a port switches over after 7 working days. Plan for that gap: keep your current service running until the switch happens, and don't cancel the old line early. Whether a particular number can be ported depends on its type and your current provider, so check the specific number before you commit. The phone numbers page is the place to start.

What to check before you choose an 087 number

• Who will call it? If most of your customers phone from mobiles on limited airtime, think about how they will feel about the cost of the call.
• Do you need a local presence? A geographic number may help if your customers search for a business in their own area.
• Is it easy to remember? If you will say it out loud in adverts or on calls, a number with a clear pattern is easier to recall.
• Is your internet reliable? A cloud phone system and VoIP number depend on a stable connection, so your office connection matters as much as the number.

Frequently asked questions

Is an 087 number a VoIP number?

Yes, 087 numbers are mostly used with VoIP and cloud phone systems. They are routed over the internet to your phone system instead of to a physical line at one address.

Is an 087 number a landline or a mobile number?

Neither. It is a non-geographic number. It looks like a landline number without an area code, and it isn't a mobile number, so it isn't tied to a SIM card.

What is the difference between an 087 number and an 0860 number?

Both are non-geographic business numbers. They are different ranges, and they are set up and charged for callers differently. 087 is the range most often used with VoIP and cloud phone systems, while 0860 and 0861 numbers are commonly seen on national service lines.

Can I get a toll-free number as well?

A toll-free number starts with 0800 and is a separate type of number. If you need one, ask Telecloud whether it is available for your business, because the numbers listed for sale are 087, geographic and mobile numbers.

How do I port my number to Telecloud?

Start by telling Telecloud which number you want to move and who your current provider is. Once the port is submitted, it switches over after 7 working days, and you should keep your existing line active until it does.

Next step

If you're weighing up an 087 number for your business, look through the 087, geographic and mobile numbers on Telecloud's phone numbers page and see how they would fit with your Cloud PBX.