Ref: 07/00
Date: 16 February 2000

Oftel today confirmed that the rules on Calling Line Identification (CLI) numbers are to be relaxed.

Under the new rules, companies will have greater freedom to provide their own CLI number for display on the equipment of the person receiving the call.

Calling Line Identification is the service that displays a caller's number to the customer at the other end of the line. The current rules only allow the CLI to be passed on to the customer if it can be verified by the network.

This safeguard was introduced to ensure that numbers displayed really did refer to the telephone from which a call was being made. Many corporate telecoms users like to provide a CLI as a service to assist customers who want to call back directly.

But some large organisations with their own private telephone network are forced to withhold their CLI service from their customers. This is because of technical limitations that prevent public networks from verifying and correctly routing certain CLIs originating from private networks. Many such organisations prefer to withhold their CLI rather than risk inconveniencing their customers with misrouted or misleading numbers.

However, from 1 March 2000, a new EU law will give customers the right to reject all calls where the CLI is withheld. The law was designed to protect customers against unsolicited marketing calls and nuisance callers. But it will also mean that customers will reject genuine calls from reputable organisations forced to withhold their CLI for technical reasons - calls which customers might want to receive.

The only way round this problem was for companies to request that the telephone company insert a CLI into the call when it breaks out onto the public network.

After detailed consultation with industry and consumer groups, Oftel has confirmed that companies will be allowed to generate and insert their own CLI that they want displayed. Telephone companies will no longer need to have to do this on their behalf.

Licences will be amended to include a new condition requiring callers to supply authentic CLI numbers. Companies who misuse their CLI risk having it withdrawn and also risk prosecution under Data Protection and Telecommunications Law.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said:

"I believe that this solution gives customers a strong measure of protection. They will be able to identify the CLI of the many reputable organisations wanting to provide a useful number for their customers while rejecting the calls they do not want to receive.

"It is now up to organisations and companies to ensure that they use these numbers in a responsible manner. There are serious penalties if they don't."

Notes for Editors

1. The document 'Presentation Numbers: The Development of Calling Line Identification Services in the UK' is available from Oftel's website. Copies are also available to the media from Oftel's Press Office on 0171-634 8991 and to the public from Oftel's Research and Intelligence Unit on 0171-634 8761.

2. The European legislation referred to is the Telecoms Data Protection Directive 97/66/EC. The regulations implementing the Directive in the UK are The Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 ( SI No.2093).

Back to Press Release Index