Ref: 38/02
Date: 14 June 2002

Proposals to ensure that consumers can keep their telephone numbers if their telecoms supplier goes out of business have been published today by Oftel.

Oftel has is asking the industry for its views on how number portability should be provided in the future.

Oftel proposes that numbers could be held in a central master database, which would be updated every time a customer transferred their number to a new supplier.

Operators would use the master database to regularly update their own networks, so that calls to ‘ported’ numbers are routed directly to the new network.

Under the current system, if a customer keeps their number when they change supplier, calls to the number continue to be routed over the network of their old supplier, before being transferred over to the new operator.

If the original supplier’s network is shut down, calls to these telephone numbers will no longer be connected.

Oftel is also asking stakeholders for their views on possible changes to the existing system to increase consumer protection in the short term. For example, another operator could be required to take over a failing network’s numbers before service is cut off.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said:

"Number portability has encouraged consumers to shop around for the best deal, as they are able to keep their telephone number when they switch suppliers.

"However, consumers need to be reassured that in the unlikely event that their supplier goes out of business, they are able keep their telephone number when they switch to a new supplier.

"Oftel has suggested that to increase consumer protection, numbers could be held centrally, so that they could be more easily transferred between networks.

"Similar systems already operate in the USA and elsewhere, although introducing it into the UK will involve some cost and will take some time.

"Oftel is inviting comments on the options and will consider the best way to develop, operate and pay for a new system. "

The DTI has announced a separate consultation which will consider the options for protecting consumers from loss of service.

Notes to editors

1 Consultation on proposals to change the framework for number portability is published on Oftel’s website at www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/numbering/2002/nupo0602.htm. Hard copies are available to the media from Oftel’s Press Office (tel: 020 7634 8991) and to the public from Oftel’s Research and Information Unit (tel: 020 7634 8761).

2. Customers who change from one telecoms supplier to another are generally entitled under EU rules to keep their original telephone number.