Welcome to the second article in our series about the most popular USSD codes of South Africa’s main cellphone service providers. A quick recap on USSD codes:
USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and is a protocol used by the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications cellphones to communicate with service providers’ computers. If you have ever topped up with airtime by dialling that “*100# “number, then you have used USSD. It offers a simple browsing experience through a menu system on your mobile device.
Latest research shows that an average of 80% of South Africans living in urban areas and 94% of South Africans living in the more remote rural areas have pre-paid accounts which gives a good indication of how a USSD service can add value. USSD is supported by all handsets and networks and requires no internet connection or application to be installed.
MTN
Transfer airtime: *141*6328* recipient’s cellphone number * rand amount #
Request airtime transfer from a friend: *141*6328* number of the person sending you airtime #
Buy or transfer airtime, SMS and Internet bundles for a friend on MTN: *141*2#
Change MTN price plan or tariff: *141*4#
Check remaining balances: *141#
Recharge airtime: *141* recharge voucher pin #
Purchase data bundles: *141*6#
Deactivate an uncapped data bundle: *141*5#
Check 141 loyalty points programme: *141* 9* your ID number #
International call rates: Dial *111*2#
Send a callback: *121* recipient’s number #
Check your cell number: *123*888#
Request MMS settings: *123*12#
Set up WAP/GPRS/Internet: *123*12#
Register Eazi recharge: *141*10#
MTN Compass: *120*555#
Activate BIS: *141*2#
Cancel a recurring bundle: *141*5#
Parental control: *101#
Play Lotto: *120#3777#
Mobile money: *120*668#
WhereRU service: *120*911#
Activate CallerTunez: *123*5#
Check zone discounts: *135#
Self-service menu: *141*0#
Directory enquiries: *200#
Cancel a mobile content subscription (WASP): *141*5#
