NUMBERING BULLETIN

July 1998

The information may also be found in a readily accessible form on the Warwick University pages.

Oftel WEB SITE MAILING LIST

NATIONAL CODE & NUMBER CHANGE

Oftel has published the Framework document for this programme.  This document sets out the key elements of policy and will be used by the National code and Number change Working groups in the preperation of technical and communications implementation plans, in respect of the forthcoming cahnges to numbering for geographic, mobile, paging, personal numbering, special services and premium rate services.

This document will be revised when necessary to include points of clarification or further definition.  To go to the document click here.   To be notified of changes to the document join our e-mail mailing list (see above).

Important dates for 02x change

Operators, User Groups and Maintainers should note the following milestones:-

• Start of Parallel Running of 02X numbers, 1 June 1999
• Code Change, 22 April 2000
• End of Parallel running of 02 numbers, as follows:-  

Further implementation detail on the programme will be publicised through the National Code & Number Change Programme Steering Group. Operators who are not yet part of the programme announced in Numbering Bulletin 33 should contact the Programme Office at:-

National Code & Number Change Programme Office,
Logica UK Limited,
75 Hampstead Road,
London NW1 2PL

Tel: (0171) 446 1602
Fax: (0171) 344 3621 

01 GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Reading Code Change

Oftel has accepted proposals from BT to carry out a two week trial, replacing the specific announcements with the standard mis-dial announcement, commencing 22 June 1998, for the purpose of collecting data for the National Code and Number Change programme.

Operators will be advised of the date for replacement of the Reading specific announcements once this trial has been completed and results assessed.

08 SPECIAL SERVICES RANGE

The Free Phone number 0808 22 4 2000 has been allocated to all Operators for helpline access once the National Code & Number Change publicity campaign starts.

090 PREMIUM RATE SERVICES RANGE

The 090 range is to be used for all new Premium Rate Services (content). Operators have been allocated blocks from the 090 sub-ranges for migration and new business. The capacity for new business will have a phased opening - 15 July 1998 for tariffs between 50ppm and £1pm, and 14 August 1998 for the remaining tariffs.

The 090 substructure is as follows (tariffs are inclusive of VAT at 17.5%):

0900 & 0901 - Time charged calls up to and including 60ppm and total call cost not greater than £5 or fixed fee up to £1 per call

906 - Open ended time dependent charge or fixed fee any rate

907 - Pay for Product >£1

909 - Adult all types and charge rates

The remaining sub-ranges are designated for PRS expansion.

 Operators using the following ranges for PRS have been allocated the appropriate migration ranges:
 

Operators, User Groups and Maintainers should note the following milestones for PRS migration to 090:-

• Start of parallel running, no later than 30 September 1998
• Parallel running for at least 12 months, but ending by 28 April 2001
• Active marketing of Premium Rate numbers outside the 090 range to cease from July 1999

ANNUAL AUDIT 1997

Oftel still has not had a 1997 Annual Audit Return from the following Operators:

Atlas International Services Ltd
Esprit Telecom Ltd
Interoute Telecommunications Plc
MTC Telemanagement Corporation
On Line Telecom Ltd
TeleBermuda International (UK) Ltd
Viatel UK Ltd
World Telecommunications Corp. Ltd
WORLDxCHANGE

These responses are being pursued. In the absence of Audit Returns, Oftel will not make further allocations to these Operators, and may start the process of withdrawing existing allocations.
 

NUMBER PORTABILITY

Oftel has received a number of enquiries and complaints regarding the methods employed by some operators and service providers to prevent customers porting their number(s). These have included threats to withdraw service and numbers, serving contract termination notices and a number of other measures. Oftel is extremely concerned about such practices and considers that operators should not circumvent an obligation to provide portability by adopting such measures.

Oftel policy is clearly geared toward the introduction of portability for all numbers and any refusal to provide portability must be clearly justified. For example, an operator may not have a reciprocal agreement to provide portability or, temporarily no technical means of supporting portability. Where an operator does have a fully operational portability agreement a refusal to port numbers is counter to general Oftel policy.

Furthermore, Oftel considers that if a Licensee sub-allocates numbers to another body, whether it be a service provider or a member of the public, that operator should take appropriate measures to ensure that, upon request from another operator, those numbers can be ported. Oftel would expect contractual arrangements between operators, service providers and customers to be sufficiently flexible to facilitate valid requests for portability.

Oftel policy - enforced through the appropriate Licence Condition - is to ensure that customers are able to benefit from number portability. Operators and service providers who currently have a reciprocal portability agreement should be aware that Oftel will take appropriate action if operators are found to be restricting the provision of portability.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SPECIFIED NUMBERING SCHEME

Changes to the Scheme are published on the Oftel web site pages.

NUMBERING UNIT RE-ORGANISATION

The Numbering Unit, recently expanded to nine permanent members of staff, is now part of the Technical Directorate, under the directorship of Peter Walker.