October 2000

Oftel's Numbering Unit publishes Numbering Bulletins regularly. Previous Numbering Bulletins are also available. 

Contents:

• Specified Numbering Scheme
• Oftel Web Site Mailing List
• National Code & Number Changes Activities
• Framework Document
• Geographic Number Range
• 5-Digit Access Codes
• Numbering Forum
• Functional Specification

SPECIFIED NUMBERING SCHEME
The full listing of the Specified Numbering Scheme can be down-loaded from the Oftel Numbering website. Click here to download Specified Numbering Scheme. This information may also be found on the Warwick University  pages.

Oftel WEB SITE MAILING LIST
Oftel has a free e-mail based mailing list to help people stay informed about the work that Oftel is doing. When an Oftel document is published and placed on Oftel’s web site, subscribers to the list receive an e-mail informing them about the document. If you would like to join then please Click here to add yourself to the list.

NATIONAL CODE AND NUMBER CHANGE ACTIVITIES
The National Code and Number Change project is co-ordinated through the NCNC Programme Office, detailed end user enquiries should be made through the originating operator by dialling 0808 22 4 2000.

Parallel running of Geographic Numbers is nearly complete, the final change is in London where the 0171 and 0181 ranges (+44 171 and +44 181 from overseas) discontinue on 14th October 2000. From this date, only numbers dialled 020 will connect (+44 20 from overseas). The old Inner London numbers 0171 XXX XXXX should be preceded with the digit 7, i.e 020 7XXX XXXX; the old Outer London numbers, 0181 YYY YYYY should be preceded with an 8, i.e 020 8YYY YYYY.

Note that there still may be old codes and numbers stored in fax machines and mobile phones that need reprogramming before 14 October.

The old numbers used by Mobiles, Pagers, Special Services (Local and National rate calls) and Premium Rate Services will work alongside the new numbers until 28 April 2001, but will be discontinued from that date.

FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT
The current Oftel Framework Document is dated 4th October 2000, and includes further details on end of parallel running announcements for Non Geographic ranges, applicable from 28 April 2000.

GEOGRAPHIC NUMBER RANGES
Operators will be aware, that since summer 1999, number ranges in Conservation Areas have been allocated on a conditional basis, in which the use is restricted to pre-defined 1000 number blocks. The next stage, commencing January 2001, is for network discrimination to apply routing at the 1000 number level in these areas. From this date, Oftel intends to allocate blocks for use on a split basis, i.e. several operators may use the same DE block, but only by prior allocation. Tariffing arrangements are unchanged. The list of Conservation Areas, previously published in Numbering Bulletin 33, has been updated to remove those areas converted to 8-digit local dialling on April 22 2000 and some areas for which there is considered no foreseeable likelihood of exhaustion. The following list is kept under review, as a result of the Annual Audit.

5-DIGIT ACCESS CODE
Oftel’s consultation document, Access Codes - Options for the Future, published in May, proposed that the supply of access codes should be increased by recovering certain unused codes (Type A) from operators, with future allocations being made in five-digit number form. There was broad agreement that this proposal offered the least cost method of increasing the supply of access codes, and that work should commence immediately on reviewing the current position to see how many five digit codes can be allocated from existing stock. In light of this strong support, and the need to release significant additional capacity to avoid near term exhaustion of this range, Oftel has decided that all future Type B codes should be in five-digit number form with immediate effect. We are still reviewing responses received on other issues.

FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION
The Number Portability Functional Specification will be ready to be consulted on shortly. The main changes to the Number Portability Functional Specification is to bring it in line with the Numbering Directive.

NUMBERING FORUM
The third Numbering Forum was held on 26 September 2000 to discuss a range of numbering issues. Click here for details of agenda , associated papers and minutes. The next Numbering Forum will be held at Oftel around 6 months time - Details will be published on the website nearer the time.

                                        [Click here to return to the 'Numbering Information' page]