Ref: 80/01
Date: 30 November 2001

New rules and principles covering the use and management of telephone numbers in the UK have been published today by Oftel.

The rules are set out in the third edition of the Numbering Conventions, which all telecoms operators must follow if they want to be allocated telephone numbers from Oftel. There are no direct implications for individual residential or business consumers.

Oftel uses the Conventions to allocate, reserve and withdraw numbers from the National Numbering Scheme, the list of all numbers allocated or available in the UK, which is controlled by Oftel.

Changes and additions to the Conventions include:

• changes to the rules governing the use of 070 personal numbers to reflect Oftel’s recent decision to ban end user revenue sharing in this range;

• clarification that Oftel will normally allocate numbers from number ranges on a ‘first come first served’ basis;

• a revised policy to conserve geographic numbers in areas where they are running out; and

• creation of a separate code of practice to cover numbering issues outside the scope of operator licenses, for example codes used for carrier pre-selection.

Chris Kenny, Oftel’s Director of Regulatory Policy, said:

"Telephone numbers are a vital resource as all new mobile phones, faxes, fixed lines and dedicated Internet connections need their own number.

"Oftel has a duty to ensure that there are sufficient numbers to meet all anticipated demand. The UK has one of the clearest and simplest phone numbering systems in the world, and Oftel’s recent number changes have created a reserve of nine billion numbers.

"Following extensive consultation with the industry, Oftel has published a new edition of the Numbering Conventions so that operators can refer to a clear and transparent set of rules on the use of telephone numbers.

"The new Conventions reflects recent changes, including Oftel’s ban of revenue sharing on 070 personal numbers.

"Oftel has also introduced new measures for safeguarding numbers where ranges are close to running out.

"Oftel only introduces number changes when it is absolutely necessary, and by allocating these numbers in smaller blocks the ranges will last longer."

Notes to editors

1 The Third Issue of the Numbering Conventions and the First Issue of the Numbering Code is available from Oftel’s website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/numbering/nuco1101.htm. Copies are available to the media from Oftel’s Press office on 020 7634 8991 and to the public from the Research and Intelligence Unit on 020 7634 8761.