Kal-Tel will be the telephone provider for all of Kaldus. They will also be in charge of providing telephone numbers to foreigners including those that are outside of Kaldus, but wants a Kaldan telephone number. Also those that come to country for visiting, or living in the country will also receive a number.
Number reference
You might see a letter in with the telephone number. This letter means something and not just a place holder. When you see an n, it is the range of numbers from 2-9. When you see an x, it is for numbers 0-9, and z is 1-9. This should hopefully reduce any confusion of seeing the letters along with the numbers.
Number Distribution
Ka-Tel will seek to acquire +883 from ITU. The rest of this site will assume for such. Anyone in the world will be able to get a Kaldan telephone number. You do not have ot be a citizen of Kaldus to get the number, but you would need to provide proof of citizenship from your home country. This is because Ka-Tel will provide the number based on your citizenship. I know, this may sound strange, so here is an example.
Kaldan citizens will get 521x as the first 4 digits of their telephone number. However, an Afghan citizen will get a number that will start with 233x. A Mexican citizen will get a number that will start with 692x. A US citizen will start with 872x. This is done to make it harder for scammers to operate. For example, an Afgan can not claim to be a US citizen because their number will start with 233x. They will be required to enter the directory assistance program which will provide name and telephone number. This is again to reduce the chance of scams. The subscriber should never set up an Kaldan number for someone else. If someone uses the number for illegal purposes, then the subscriber will be held responsible.
Since foreign numbers are outside Kaldus, all services will be SIP only. They will be required to log into the system, and provide the MAC address of the device they wish to use.
No number will begin with 0 or 1. In addition, the second number starting with 0 or 1 will not be available to foreign subscribers. A foreign subscriber is only allowed 1 telephone number, and that number must serve their needs. In addition, this number must be for personal use only. Any business wishing to promote themselves in Kaldus must have a location in Kaldus. Kaldan business must have a Kaldan address as required by law. Therefore Ka-Tel will never issue a business telephone number to a foreign entity.
Toll-free numbers will be numbers in the 800x series of numbers. Therefore, a number starting with 8003 will be a toll-free number. Toll-free numbers are domestic only, and will charge the owner of the phone number when receiving a call. With that said, the subscriber will see the number calling even if the caller has anonymous calling turned on. Government numbers will always be 8000.
Telephone Infrastructure/Design
Two types of phone services will be provided. The first is the more expensive cellular, and the second is SIP. Copper Line phone services will be considered as obsolete, and there will be a push to replace copper phone lines with fiber optic. All fiber optic lines will belong to Ka-Tel and will provide for internet, telephone, and television. No new copper line customers will be accepted. In addition, if the place the subscriber is moving to does not have copper lines anymore, then they must move to SIP which will require an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), or a SIP phone. This is not a standard option, and will not be considered as services.
The first service is cellular. Almost any 4G (LTE) or 5G phone will work. There will be no support for CDMA only phones. To set up service, one could go to a Ka-Tel store to buy a SIM card, however eSIM will be preferred. Ka-Tel assumes for SIM cards to be legacy, and will only support them as needed. Ka-Tel will always prefer eSIM connections which is more secured for the customer, and will mean no fumbling around for a SIM card. If there is a need to switch devices, the subscriber can log into their portal, and change the IMEI number of their phone. They will then use the Ka-Tel app to transfer their eSIM from the old phone to the new phone.
The second option is SIP (Session Initiated Protocol). SIP is the standard for VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. Since there will be some level of internet service for everyone in Kaldus, this will not be an issue. To make this type of line work, the subscriber will need an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), or SIP capable phone. As with the cellular phone, the customer will log into their portal, and set the MAC address of the device. They will use their telephone number as the UID, and setup a password that is not the portal’s password.
Stores will not be allowed to sell basic cellular phones, nor will they be allowed to sell phones that uses the old telephone port. For cellular phones, one will have to move to a smartphone when they replace their basic phone. For home phones, one will buy an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) which will interconnect the obsolete phone to a SIP capable phone. Any location that only has copper lines for telephone/internet will be able to keep their resources the same until fiber optic replaces the copper lines, or until 4G/5G cellular is offered. With 4G cellular, there will be an ATA as a part of the modem/router.
Directory Assistance
Directory Assistance will be important for any country’s telephone network. With Ka-Tel, every customer would have a directory assistance page that would require at the minimum the name, and telephone number. All pages will look a lot like what a .tel domain would look like. There will be expanded capabilities such as providing for a .vcf file that would be created with the information the subscriber will place into their page. This means the information on the page, and in the .vcf file will be the exact same. There are a few ways to utilize the resources of Directory Assistance. The first option will be to send an RCS/SMS message to 411. This message will be the name of the entity, and city. The Directory Assistance will reply with options. The second option will be to go to https://411.tel.ka and search from there. The last option will be to call 411, however, this call will cost $2.50KaD per call. In addition to looking up a name and phone number, the user can do a reverse phone number lookup. They can go to https://411.tel.ka/telephone number. This page will provide that information as provided by the subscriber – again a minimum of name, and telephone number is required.
Foreign Usage
Any one in the world will be allowed to have a telephone number. They just have to prove citizenship of said country. This is so Ka-Tel can provide the right telephone number. This could be something as simple as a .pdf copy of their birth certificate. There will be an SSL form that the foreigner will apply at and offer uploads for documents to prove identity, and citizenship. Once proof has been reviewed, the foreigner will be issued a telephone number. They will then have to pay for the plan which they will only be able to get the Foreign SIP Plan. They will receive all of the benefits that a domestic customer will be able to afford. However, dialing 911 will ring to their emergency service line, and not Kaldus’ emergency network.
Features
All of these features will be available to both cellular, and SIP customers (unless otherwise noted). When a feature can be managed through the online portal, it can also be managed through an app that can be installed on Android, or iOS devices. The feaatures are as follows
3 Way Calling
3 Way calling is when you are talking to 2 people at the same time. Those 2 people + you is how 3 way calling is figured out. If you terminate the call, both lines are dropped. However, if a person you are speaking with drops their call, you and the remaining person will still be on the line.
ACR
ACR (Anonymous Caller Rejection) is when you reject any call that does not disclose their telephone number. Such calls will go straight to voicemail. The caller will then either hang up, or leave a message. Even though the caller made the call anonymous, the Ka-Tel will still have records, and your telephone number. Therefore harassing or threatening calls can still be reported.
Anonymous Calling
You will be allowed to log into the portal and turn on/off Anonymous calling. When it is on, the person you are calling to will see Anonymous Caller as the name, and no number. The person you are calling can choose to answer it, or send to voicemail. If the person you are calling has ACR on, then you would automatically go to voicemail without the phone ringing.
Blacklist
Blacklist is a Ka-Tel feature that can be setup and managed through the portal. Essentially, one would add a number to the blacklist whether it is a domestic or international telephone number. Any time the blacklisted call will call you, they will go straight to voicemail.
Call Waiting
When you are on the call and someone else tries to call you, you will hear a tone. This tone will allow you to look at your CID screen to see who’s calling. You can choose to put the current person on hold, or let the second caller go to voicemail You can turn off this feature through the online portal.
Caller ID
Assuming the caller does not block their number, when you receive a call, the number, and name of the account holder will show up. This information is dependent on what name is used when setting up the number with Ka-Tel. Therefore, one would never see Wireless Caller as the caller. Keep in mind, scammers will likely spoof their numbers. Ka-Tel will make features in place that would limit this, but nothing is guaranteed.
Device Lock
This is a required feature. Basically, the subscriber must provide an IMEI number if using a cellular phone, or a MAC address if using a SIP device. This is designed to make it harder for scammers to use the Ka-Tel network to rip people off. In example, a call center can not use their outside of Kaldus location, and display a Kaldan number if that number is not associated with their telephony server. When this happens, the call will still go through, but the name will be identified as Possible Scam. This is the whole point of locking the number to a particular device. This also makes it much harder for a thief to swipe the number since it is locked to a device. If the subscriber wishes to transfer their number to another device, then they will have to log into the portal, and change the IMEI, or MAC address of the device they wish to use. From that point on, the old device will not longer work. You would have to swap out the SIM card, or use the Ka-Tel app to move your eSIM from the old device to the new device.
RCS
Ka-Tel will support RCS for both Android and iPhones. RCS is more versatile, and SMS/MMS is considered as legacy technology, and is still supported for basic or KaiOS phones which do not support RCS. Ka-Tel will promote the use of a smartphone within the country, and with that said, basic phones will not be marketed or sold by Ka-Tel. If the subscriber wishes to have a basic phone, then they must buy online.
SIP Address
All phones, even cellular phones will have their own SIP address. The address will be simple and to the point. SIP calling is free to anyone in the world with a support SIP provider. The SIP address will always be sip:telephone-number@tel.ka.
SIP Broker Calling
When dialing 111, the subscriber will be able to dial any SIP broker number, and have a very similar effect to SIP calling as noted above. In addition, Ka-Tel will work with SIP Broker to acquire the *883 access code which will make the number look more like the international standard number.
SMS 411
One can send an RCS/SMS message to 411 to get telephone number lookup for an entity based on the name and city of the person. If the city is not known, then the name can be provided, however – many more results will show, and the subscriber will have more work to do.
Unified Voicemail
Every subscriber will have 1 voicemail line. This does not matter how many telephone numbers they have. All telephone numbers will use the one voicemail. If a second voicemail is required, it will likely be for commercial use, and therefore the subscriber will get a business license with an NIN for that business entity. They can then receive a second account in representation of the business.
x11 dialing
There will be special numbers designed to reach certain local services with a couple of exceptions that would be noted. These numbers will work nationwide, and is based on cellular triangulation, or IP address of the caller. The numbers are as follows:
- 011 or 00: International Dial Code
- 111: SIP Broker Dialing
- 211: National Charity Services
- 311: City Government
- 411: Directory Assistance
- 511: Underground Utility Commission
- 611: Ka-Tel
- 711: Welfare Services
- 811: Mental Health Emergency Services
- 911: Emergency Services
011
To dial to another country from a SIP phone, the subscriber must dial 011 or 00 to connect to another country. Therefore to call my voicemail, they will dial 011 + 1 9144491795. In the case of cellular phones, they should just dial + and then the international number. However, good contact management habit should always fulfill the entire number. In my case, all telephone numbers in my contacts has +1 for domestic calls. I have never been charged international rates for calling domestic.
111
SIP Broker is as the name suggests brokerage SIP phone services. Any company using all digits as the UID will be able to get a SIP Broker access code. Once they done that, anyone that dials through SIP Broker will be able to dial to them without having to dial a SIP address. Ka-Tel will attempt to get the SIP Broker code of 883 which will be the attempt country code acquired from ITU. If this can be done, it would make dialing to a Kaldan subscriber much easier. When the subscriber calls a SIP Broker Number, they will dial 111 followed by the SIP Broker code (without the *) and then the subscriber number. In example, to dial my SIP number, the person will dial 111 011 18556829751 to reach me.
211
211 is the National Charity Services. This is a nationally funded charity that would provide resources, and help for people in need. In example, if someone calls needing to find affordable housing, National Charity Services will provide them with a listing of all of the affordable housing communities. If resources allows for it, they will work with the property owner to try to help pay the rent therefore making it more affordable.
311
311 is city/community government. If there is an issue with a city road, or an abandoned house falling apart, contacting 311 will reach the government where you can make complaints. You can also get information on the going ons with the city. Every 311 number is likely a little different. One may have you go through an IVR system where another one will reach someone directly. Very few if any will answer 24/7.
411
411 is directory assistance. It would support RCS, SMS, and voice connections. To send via RCS or SMS one will simply open a message – address it to 411, and submit the name of the person/business and city they live in. If the number is available, the subscriber will receive return information. In RCS, all of the options will come back in one return message. In SMS, each entry will get its own SMS message.
You could also call 411, and speak with a machine, and then an operator if the machine has a problem understanding you, but any call to 411 will cost $2.50KaD.
511
Kaldus will seek to move all utilities under ground. I am sure many people seen poles with overhead lines. These lines are electrical, and communication lines. With Kaldus seeking to pull out gas lines, and installing these overhead lines into the ground – one must be careful when digging deeper than 5′ (1.5meters). By calling this number, the utility management service will come over, and mark where the utilities are located to avoid puncturing the lines, and endangering people, or at the very least require a high cost to repair to the digger. It is up to the digger to contact 511.
611
This number is to reach Ka-Tel. This will include support for internet, telephone, or television. When calling Ka-Tel, there will be an IVR that would guide the caller to the correct department. Calling Ka-Tel will provide the needed resources one might need. They will also use this for password resets if they are locked out of their portal.
711
711 is Welfare Services. Everyone in Kaldus will receive a monthly deposit of $1,000KaD into their account, but this is still below the poverty line. With that said, Welfare Services will provide resources, and additional assistance for the person in need. This will likely include the provision of food assistance, and even higher education assistance. Since the country will have single payer healthcare, one does not have to worry about health insurance.
811
811 is mental health emergency. This number will be called if someone is feeling suicidal, or if there is someone suffering from a psychotic episode. When 811 is dialed, a mental health worker along with an plain clothed police office will come. The mental health worker will try to negotiate with the person, and if needed make an admission of the person to a mental health hospital. The police officer is tasked with protecting the mental health worker from a violent episode, and be able to detain the person with handcuffs (only if needed)
911
911 is emergency services. If someone needs an ambulance, has a fire emergency, or needs law enforcement immediately, they will dial 911 on their phone. This will work even if there is no active service with that device. For cellular service, triangulation will be used. For SIP, the IP address database will identify where the caller is.
Customer Portal
The customer portal will be where the customer will log in, and make changes to their account. This could be something as simple as turning features on or off, or as intense as setting up a blacklist or changing devices. The customer portal will be available to everyone that has service with Ka-Tel. To log into the portal, one will go to https://portal.tel.ka.
Prices
Obviously, price is always a factor when acquiring services. The prices will be for both landline, and cellular services. All but one plan will include unlimited incoming and unlimited domestic calling.
Because telephone is considered an essential service, Ka-Tel will be required to offer affordable rates. Therefore, paying more than $100KaD for a single line is against the law. In addition, Ka-Tel must provide a $20 discount to any subscriber that provides income statemnets and live 150% of poverty. This $20 discount is applied to the entire bill, and only one discount per address.
SIP Basic
SIP Basic is free. This is provided to someone that may want a home phone for emergencies, or a second number that they will use sparingly. SIP Basic will support unlimited incoming calls, and 500 minutes domestic calling. Calling toll-free numbers will not count against the 500 minutes. The subscriber will still get all of the digital phone features, and just limited for outgoing calls. If the subscriber surpasses the 500 minute limit, they will be charged 10ยข KaD for every minute. Also, international calls will not count against these 500 minutes.
SIP Plan
The SIP plan is home phone service. It will include unlimited domestic calling, and all of the digital services one would expect. There is not much else to say with this plan since it is so straight forward. SIP Plan is $10KaD per month.
SIP Foreigner
As mentioned, Ka-Tel will provide a Kaldan telephone number to anyone in the world that would wish a telephone number from Ka-Tel. This will cost a little extra. They will receive the benefits of the SIP Plan, but their price is $15KaD per month. The subscriber will be responsible for any foreign transaction fees.
Cellular
As with the SIP plan, All cellular services will provide for the digital features, and unlimited domestic minutes. The only difference from the 3 plans will be the speeds. They will still require an LTE/5G phone, but the speed will be throttled depending on the plan chosen. The plans are as follows:
- 3G: $15KaD
- 4G: $25KaD
- 5G: $35KaD
Keep in mind that someone living 150% of poverty will have a $20KaD discount on their bill. This means they can acquire a 4G line for $5KaD which should be affordable to anyone especially with the GBI program.
Setting Up Service
If you are setting up services for the first time, you would need to acquire a UAN from your government portal. This will help prove it is you that is setting up services for yourself. This is designed to reduce fraud, and keep accounts safe.
First, the subscriber must log into https://login.gov.ka and sign in. Once logged in, they will need to acquire a GAN (Government Authorization Number). They will take this along with their ID to a Ka-Tel store, and setup service. They can also do it over the phone, but this might be a little tricker since the subscriber will have to read out the GAN. Once they create an account, they won’t need to do that again unless they started a business. Once an account is setup, they will then provide their phone to the rep. If the subscriber would need a SIM card, they will issue that SIM card to your phone, however eSIM is preferred as it doesn’t have any waste involved, and simply put, easier to installed. The subscriber will then be encouraged to download the Ka-Tel app for managing their phone service including adding more numbers.
If the subscriber needs a second number (such as a home phone, or fax), they will be able to log int to their portal to add a new number. They will be issued a telephone number, which will be the UID. The subscriber will then provide the password that (s)he wishes to use, and the MAC address of the device connecting. This could be an ATA, or a SIP phone. Once that is done, the subscriber will set up their advice, and the number will work. They can also do this for another cellular phone, but will provide an IMEI number, and be issued a number. If they need a SIM card, it will be mailed to them, and eSIM will show up as a QR code on the screen once the number has been assigned.