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Proposals for geogaphic number conservation measures

Full document updated 07|03|05 to include missing rows in tables on pages 44, 45 and 47.

Summary

1.1 The purpose of this consultation is to present the proposals made by Ofcom (the Office of Communications) for the conservation of geographic telephone numbers. These measures are designed to ensure that sufficient blocks of geographic numbers are available to meet Communications Providers’ needs for at least the coming two to three years. It is not a consultation on Geographic Area Code changes. The proposals, if implemented, would have no adverse impact on consumers. On the contrary, they would benefit consumers by ensuring that sufficient and appropriate geographic numbers are available, thus helping to promote competition, and by delaying changes to Geographic Area Codes for as long as possible. The proposals would, however, have an impact on the way Communications Providers route calls to some geographic numbers. Therefore Communications Providers are the principal stakeholders affected by these proposals and their comments are particularly sought.

1.2 Conservation measures are already established and in place for a small number of Geographic Area Codes in the UK. These measures consist of increasing the amount of telephone number blocks available for allocation tenfold by reducing the size of number block from 10,000 (10k) to 1,000 (1k) numbers (known as ‘Type A’ conservation measures), as well as creating a ‘watch list’ of areas where numbers are to be used conservatively in 1k units (known as ‘Type B’ conservation measures). Type A Conservation Areas are defined in the National Telephone Numbering Plan (‘the Plan’) as those which Ofcom believe are within two years of having less than ten spare 10k number blocks available for allocation. Type B Conservation Areas are those which Ofcom believes are likely to become Type A Conservation Areas within ten years.

1.3 The availability of numbers in some Geographic Area Codes is currently very limited. There is also an increasing demand for geographic numbers as a result of Ofcom’s decision in September 2004 that such numbers are appropriate for new voice services. Therefore, in order for Ofcom to comply with its duty to secure that the best use is made of telephone numbers, it must put in place measures to ensure that the limited resource can meet Communication Providers’ escalating demands. To this end, Ofcom has assessed the current availability of numbers in each Geographic Area Code in the UK and considered this alongside potential future demand and other factors influencing the likely rate at which numbers will be used up (the exhaustion rate). As a result of this analysis, Ofcom is proposing that 64, and possibly up to 190, Geographic Area Codes are determined as Type A Conservation Areas and 14 Geographic Area Codes are determined as Type B Conservation Areas (the actual Geographic Area Codes proposed are listed in Annex 7).

1.4 The conservation status of Geographic Area Codes is indicated in the Plan. This ensures that Communications Providers in the UK know which Geographic Area Codes are subject to conservation measures. It also creates an obligation for all Communications Providers to use numbers and route calls accordingly. The Communications Act 2003 sets out the procedures to be followed when reviewing the Plan, including the publication of a notification of proposed modifications, the reasoning for and effect of those proposals and the satisfying of certain legal tests. The purpose of this consultation document, therefore, is to set out and explain Ofcom’s proposed changes to the Plan in relation to geographic number conservation measures. Comments are invited on the proposals as set out in the notification in Annex 8, the specific consultation questions contained in the document and listed in Annex 3 and general comments on the document by 18 March 2005.

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• Conserving geographic numbers - Proposals for geographic number conservation measures [pdf]
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