The free Vodacom National Relay Service lets customers with hearing difficulties place calls.
Many of us take our hearing for granted, especially when we use our phones. We can simply pick up our device, dial a number or select a WhatsApp contact, and start a conversation. But for many people, this is not such an easy task.
Hearing loss can create significant barriers to making phone calls, hindering independence.
Approximately 20% of South Africans experience some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). This group includes between four and five million people with hearing impairments and approximately 600,000 individuals who use South African Sign Language (SASL) to communicate.
Relay Service: Relaying Communications for Free
Vodacom believes that everyone should be included in the digital era, reflected in its “inclusion for all” objective. For example, it provides zero-rated access to digital services for over 29 million users on the Vodacom ConnectU platform.
It also hosts the Vodacom National Relay Service (NRS) and Specific Needs Centre, a real-time communication service that empowers deaf, hearing-impaired, and speech-impaired customers to connect with the world around them.
The NRS is a telecommunications relay service that enables individuals with hearing or speech impairments to communicate with standard telephone users. It offers various modes of communication, providing different methods that best suit each person’s communication style. Using the NRS, people can accomplish the tasks we use phones for: communicate with other people, make bookings at venues, set appointments, make reservations, and even access emergency services.
Traditionally, individuals with hearing and speech impairments rely on family or friends to make calls on their behalf. Vodacom NRS lets them use real-time communication directly, including:
- Voice relay: for users who can speak but struggle to hear.
- Text relay: for those who cannot hear or speak well.
- SMS and live chat services: offering text-based interactions.
- Video relay: specifically designed for SASL users, connecting them with South African Sign Language Interpreters (SASLIs).
- Captioned telephony: speech-to-text assistance through devices with Live Captions functionality.
Helping the Hearing Impaired Communicate
Vodacom NRS is helping dismantle the digital barriers faced by a significant portion of South Africans. Best of all, it’s free to all registered Vodacom postpaid and prepaid customers who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or have speech difficulties.
Vodacom customers can access the NRS through several channels:
- Voice relay: Call 082 12580
- Text relay: SMS 12580 or email 12580@vodacom.co.za
- Live chat or video relay: WhatsApp 082 009 8624, the My Vodacom App, or the Vodacom website
By offering real-time communication solutions and dedicated support services, Vodacom is empowering deaf, hearing-impaired, and speech-impaired individuals to participate fully in the digital world. As South Africa continues to evolve in the digital landscape, initiatives like these will play a crucial role in shaping a more inclusive and accessible future for all.
Inspired? Read more on Vodacom’s purpose-driven initiatives.
