iMessage activation SMS blocked

<p>After several calls to the call centre and visits to Vodashop technicians, I am still not able to activate iMessage on my *number* (it works on email). Call centres are either completely unaware of iMessage (I spoke to one that kept on confusing it with SMS, and for some reason told me to phone "The iPhone" as if it was a company to resolve this), or they just direct you to a technician. To me, this is unacceptable, as I am very certain this is a networking issue. iMessage activates itself by sending an international SMS. I'm certain this message is either never delivered to Apple's servers, OR the return SMS/verification is never received. Given the size of Apple as a company, the odds are much bigger that Vodacom is *****ing up here. </p> <p> </p> <p>Last month (September 2016) I spent almost R180 on international SMSs (almost all due to me trying to activate iMessage). I've phoned the call centre to tell me where these SMSs were sent, but they weren't able to confirm the number or the status of these messages. </p> <p> </p> <p>I went to the Vodashop in Stellenbosch, where the technician didn't show much interest in first listening to my description of the problem: He just wanted the phone unlocked to change settings. After that he simply Googled for answers -- something I've already done myself, and doesn't show expertise on the side of the technician. </p> <p> </p> <p>I don't change the network settings on my phone, but I've now started checking the SMSC settings, and have changed it from + ********** 9 to + ********** 9. Oddly, I immediately received another spam SMS, which likely has been queued on the network for a long time. </p> <p> </p> <p>Another symptom that I believe is related to the reliability of the Vodacom network and SMS, is that many SMSs does either not reach met at all (there are odd occasions when people would still send me a traditional SMS), or, e.g. my banking SMSs are delayed by up to an hour (and I've checked with my bank for any problems on their side). </p> <p> </p> <p>I've switched phones recently, and hoped by restoring to a new phone might change something. Unfortunately this same issue has existed on my previous iPhone 6, that I now have on my new iPhone 6. It is hence not a device related issue.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is all incredibly frustrating, especially when it costs me as a customer a lot of money, and getting unfriendly and unprofessional advice. From what I understand, Vodacom is obliged to assist, and that there exists an agreement between Apple and Vodacom that all iPhone features will be supported. </p>