A Statement issued by the Director General of Telecommunications

Contents

Summary

Chapter 1 Background

Chapter 2 Summary of responses to the proposed revisions and the Director’s comments

Chapter 3 Summary of changes to the draft revised Number Portability Functional Specification

Annex A Number Portability Functional Specification, Issue No 4

Annex B List of respondents to the consultation

Summary

S.1 Number portability is a facility provided by telecoms operators or service providers to enable subscribers to keep their telephone numbers when changing their supplier.

S.2 The Functional Specification is a document, published from time to time by the Director General of Telecommunications (the "Director"), which specifies technical and other principles which are intended to enable the efficient implementation and utilisation of portability.

S.3 In this statement, the Director summarises and comments on the responses to his consultation of June 2001 on proposals to make certain revisions to the Functional Specification.

S.4 The Director considers that his proposed compromise arrangements to ensure that service providers comply with their obligations to provide number portability in respect of fixed services, is that which is most likely to ensure that subscribers are provided with number portability in a timely manner. Therefore, operators will retain a role in ensuring compliance in circumstances where they directly sub-allocate numbers to service providers. The Director has, however, decided to review this issue as part of the forthcoming European Directives implementation process. This must be in place by July 2003.

S.5 The Director has decided to carry out further consultation on the potential impacts of his proposed relaxation of those restrictions that deprive customers, when or having changed their supplier, from having a greater degree of flexibility to move location and keep their ported geographic numbers. It is anticipated that a consultation document will be published before the end of the year or early 2003.

S.6 Issue number 4 of the number portability Functional Specification, incorporating the changes arising as a result of this consultation exercise, is at Annex A. This will take effect from 12 September 2002.

Chapter 1

Background

1.1 The UK number portability regulatory regime, whether through licence conditions or, in the case of unlicensed service providers, through free standing regulations, require the provision of portability in accordance with the rules set out in the Functional Specification. For the avoidance of doubt, operators and service providers must comply with their portability obligations which require that subscribers’ requests to keep their numbers independently of the undertaking providing the service are met, as provided for in European Community legislation. The Functional Specification deals with technical and other principles that are intended to enable the efficient implementation and utilisation of portability. However, nothing contained in (or, as the case may be, not contained in) the Functional Specification overrides the aforementioned obligations to enable subscribers to keep their numbers.

1.2 In June 2001, the Director General of Telecommunications (the "Director") published a consultative document seeking comments on proposed revisions to the current Functional Specification (Issue number 3 of 30 June 1998).

1.3 These proposals covered three main areas. These were:

• To bring the Functional Specification into line with changes to UK legislation following the coming into force of the number portability provisions of the Interconnection Directive (97/33/EC) by amendments provided for in the Numbering Directive (98/61/EC). This includes the extension of number ranges to which number portability applies and the obligations and responsibilities of systemless service providers.
• To relax the requirement that licensed operators ensure that unlicensed service providers provide fixed number portability so that such responsibilities are limited to those service providers to whom licensees directly allocate numbers.
• To relax the current mobility rule to offer telecoms companies greater flexibility to meet customer demand to be able to keep their numbers when changing their supplier and moving address.

1.4 Oftel received eight responses to its consultation. A list of respondents can be found at Annex B.

1.5 A summary of the issues raised by the respondents and the Director’s comments are set out in chapter 2; a summary of non-material changes to the draft revised Functional Specification, as detailed in the above-mentioned consultation document, are set out in chapter 3.

1.6 A list of definitions of the terms used in this statement is included within the Functional Specification Issue No 4 at Annex A. For this reason, this statement does not contain a glossary.

Chapter 2 Summary of responses to the proposed revisions and the Director’s comments

Section 1, Donor Operator’s Rules, rule 2

Original proposal

2.1 To modify the rule regarding the donor operator’s obligation to notify certain parties where unforeseen technical constraints arise, to further clarify that the donor operator’s ability to provide portability is a regulatory requirement.

Responses

2.2 Colt sought clarification as to whether this rule applies prior to, or after, a subscriber number has been ported.

Director’s comment

2.3 This is not a response relating to the proposed revision but which seemingly seeks clarification on a rule that has been in place since Issue 1 of 29 July 1996. The rule requires the donor operator to notify certain parties, in the event it experiences technical constraints effecting the provision of portability in respect of new subscriber numbers. This rule, therefore, applies to numbers before they have been ported, whereas section 2, recipient operator’s rules, rule 2 deals with circumstances which may arise after a number has been ported. It is a matter for the donor to determine which recipient operators it notifies but, for the purpose of clarification, the Director considers that this must include any operator or service provider who has requested portability in respect of any of the new subscriber numbers concerned.

Section 2, Recipient Operator’s Rules, rule 4

Original proposal

2.4 To remove the current rule which restricts recipient operators from only providing their imported customers with simultaneous or subsequent geographic mobility within the service area of the donor operator.

2.5 To insert new rules which require a recipient operator, who chooses to offer its customer simultaneous or subsequent geographic mobility outside the donor operator’s service area, to first make clear, in writing, to its customer that he will be unable to exercise his rights to number portability at that location. With regard to geographic mobility, the recipient operator is also responsible for ensuring the integrity of the emergency call service.

Responses

2.6 Energis, Telewest, Colt, Cable & Wireless and SACOT welcomed Oftel’s proposal to relax the current restrictions on geographic mobility. Energis believes that the present restriction is a commercially, not technically, driven practice by BT which prevents customers who want mobility to have the freedom to do so. ntl supports limited mobility by bilateral agreement between porting partners.

2.7 BT maintains that Oftel’s proposal seeks to embrace mobility without proper consultation on the principles and practicalities. It questions the value of geographic mobility (in terms of both customer demand and the availability of other products that achieve the same result) and expresses concern about compromising the customer’s right to number portability including their right to port back.

2.8 On the basis that ntl viewed the expansion of mobility beyond the service area of the donor as obligatory, it raised certain technical issues giving rise to potential cost implications and invited Oftel to further evaluate the costs and benefits of its proposal. ntl suggested that Oftel’s proposal exceeded the provisions of European Community legislation which limits rights to geographic portability to a specific location, a view shared by BT. BT also questioned whether Oftel’s proposal brought about sufficient benefits and was critical that Oftel had not carried out preparatory work such as the production of a cost benefit analysis.

2.9 Colt disagrees with Oftel’s proposal regarding the circumstances in which customers would lose their rights to portability. It believes that customers should not lose their right to number portability because of mobility, a view shared by Telewest.

2.10 With regard to Oftel’s proposal that the recipient ensures that customers are made fully aware of the consequences of geographic mobility, ntl and Energis suggested that industry, Oftel and representative consumer bodies work together to ensure that consumers are provided with information to be able to make an informed choice. On this point, Colt suggests that the method of informing customers of their loss of portability rights should be standardised across industry and documented in the relevant industry process manual. ntl raised issues regarding the retention of records and changes of account holders, the latter was also raised by BT.

2.11 As regards mobility and the 999/112 emergency service issues, ntl and BT urge further examination of the impacts particularly where the relevant Emergency Authority is linked to the serving area of the host switch. Cable & Wireless propose that Oftel makes the recipient requirement regarding emergency service contact details more explicit by making it a rule in its own right. Cable & Wireless would also like to see the inclusion of further advice on the maintenance of customer directory entries.

2.12 ntl and Energis both argue that where mobility is extended from the service area of the donor operator up to an entire National Destination Code ("NDC"), there remain some circumstances where limits should apply. ntl believes that mobility should not be supported across Northern Ireland (limited instead to pre number change area code boundaries) or between Portsmouth and Southampton which is separated by Fareham codes. ntl expressed concern that the numbering scheme should not be compromised by enhanced mobility driving up take up of out-of-area services.

2.13 Colt supports the Oftel proposal to lift the current mobility restriction whilst maintaining the integrity of the geographic area numbering plan. However, Colt believes that customers should be able to take their numbers with them within each numbering area.

Director’s comments

2.14 The Director has carefully reviewed his proposals to lift the restriction on recipient operators from providing imported customers with simultaneous or subsequent geographic mobility outside the service area of the donor operator. The Director notes that this proposal, more than any other, elicited comments and serious concerns from certain industry stakeholders, in particular from BT and, to a lesser extent, from ntl. In certain instances, the content of responses to the June 01 consultation suggests that additional clarification might also prove helpful with particular regard to the definition of "a specific location" in the context of geographic portability.

2.15 The Director has therefore decided to further test his proposals by carrying out consultation on his assessment of the economic impacts which may arise. In addition, the Director intends to give further clarification on the legal framework, including on his proposed interpretation of "specific location", and to invite detailed comments on the same.

2.16 The separate consultation on geographic number portability and geographic mobility, and the concatenation of both, is expected to be published before the end of the year or early 2003. For the avoidance of any doubt, the current rule containing the above-mentioned restriction will remain unchanged until such further consultation has taken place and the Director has decided, having taken into account any responses made, that it is appropriate to remove the same.

Section 4, Common Rules, rule 10

Original proposal

2.17 To transfer this rule to section 4, Common Rules, from section 1, Donor Operator’s Rules as it is applicable to both donor and recipient operators.

2.18 To relax the requirement in Issue 3, whereby the donor operator was responsible for ensuring that any numbers sub-allocated to any service providers (including mobile service providers) remain capable of being ported between operators. The amendment proposes to limit this requirement to those circumstances where an operator has directly sub-allocated numbers in the context of fixed numbers only.

Responses

2.19 Vodafone, ntl, BT, Energis and Colt all restated their views, as set out in the original consultation, that Oftel’s proposed relaxation on the requirement to ensure sub-allocations of numbers can be ported does not go far enough. No new views were expressed.

Director’s comments

2.20 Oftel maintains its view, as set out previously, that withdrawing the obligation on operators in full and relying on the enforcement powers to take service providers to court under the relevant regulations will not result in the quickest or most effective way of ensuring that customers are able to take advantage of portability. However, the Director considers that it is appropriate to review his position as part of the implementation work on the portability provisions of the Universal Service Directive (2002/22/EC). This must be completed by July 2003. The regulatory regime and enforcement powers for number portability will then be consistent across mobile and fixed services.

Portability rights

2.21 Whilst not related to the Functional Specification itself, the Director used the opportunity of the June 01 consultation to respond to queries about whether the rights afforded to subscribers to be able to keep their numbers extend also to service providers or resellers. The Director reasoned that, should the matter be tested in the courts, he considered it unlikely that it could be successfully argued that service providers, that are simple resellers, have a right to number portability.

2.22 Whilst most respondents welcomed this clarification, several maintained that grey areas still existed particularly in the supply chain for publicly available telecoms services.

2.23 The Director does not wish to provide any further clarification of a general nature. Where disputes arise which are investigated by Oftel, the Director will take a view based on the particular circumstances surrounding individual cases and publish his findings by way of the Competition Bulletin, where appropriate.

Other issues raised in responses

Response

2.24 It was pointed out that the porting of paging numbers is not required and that the obligation to provide portability in respect of personal numbers is made more explicit.

Director’s comments

2.25 The Director considers that the position regarding paging and personal numbers is made sufficiently clear in the preamble (see "Scope of Portability") and in the Annexes to the Functional Specification.

Response

2.26 BT invited Oftel to note that its costs and charges for portability in respect of processes and arrangements for service providers may differ from those costs and charges determined by the Director relating to inter-operator charges.

Director’s comments

2.27 The Director notes BT’s comments.

Response

2.28 BT recognises that where a customer has an existing out-of-area service with an operator, provided the customer stays at the same address they have a right to port. This is the only circumstance in which BT maintains that a mobility check may not be necessary. Customers provided with "permanent" call forwarding facilities should not, in BT’s view, be able to keep their number and change address outside the donor service area.

Director’s response

2.29 The Director considers that this issue is embraced by his proposals relating to section 2, Recipient Operator’s Rules, rule 4. Therefore his position regarding BT’s above-mentioned comments is as set out above in paragraph 2.14 to 2.16.

Response

2.30 Both BT and Cable & Wireless maintained that the rules relating to the transfer of number blocks covered in section 4, Common Rules, rules 1 and 2, remain unlikely to be invoked in their current format. Whilst having some applicability to circumstances where a recipient operator serves all the customers with numbers in use in a given block (eg where a single retail customer "owns" all the numbers in a block and wishes to switch supplier), neither company could readily see a situation where a donor would welcome a block transfer to a competitor whilst continuing to serve some customers with numbers in use within the block, ie agreeing to a reverse porting arrangement.

Director’s comments

2.31 The Director has recently published his consultation on proposals to change the framework for number portability (14 June 2002). In that document, the Director seeks views on proposals to put in place arrangements to transfer blocks in circumstances where a company withdraws from the telecoms market. The Director does not therefore consider it appropriate to make any changes to the current Functional Specification rules until he has received and considered the responses of stakeholders to the June 02 consultation. He will, however, take the comments made by Cable & Wireless and BT in response to this consultation into account when giving further consideration to any changes to these rules.

Responses

2.32 BT suggests that there have been operational problems with maintaining up to date copies of the various process manuals on Oftel’s web-site. BT recognises that these documents are the responsibility of industry and seeks to have access to part of Oftel’s web-site where publishing is delegated to the document owners.

Director’s comments

2.33 Oftel is not content to facilitate industry access to its web-site because this raises security and liability concerns as well as logistical difficulties. Oftel recognises that it is important that industry number portability documents are kept up to date and are accessible. Oftel will work with industry to improve on the current arrangements and endeavour to address particular concerns. Alternatively, industry may wish to consider setting up its own site so that its documentation may be maintained to its satisfaction and controlled in a manner of its choosing.

Definitions and wording

2.34 Several respondents suggested changes to the definitions, annexes and wording of Oftel’s draft Functional Specification. Such proposed amendments are generally of a minor nature and too numerous to detail, on a point by point basis, as to whether the Director accepts or rejects each suggestion. Where the Director has rejected any proposed amendment, ie where it does not appear in Issue number 4, and the party concerned wishes to know the reason why, they are invited to contact Oftel directly.

Chapter 3

Summary of changes to the draft revised number portability Functional Specification

3.1 This chapter summarises those non-material changes which the Director has made, following consultation with interested parties, to the draft revised number portability Functional Specification, which he published at Annex A to his consultation document Revisions to the Number Portability Functional Specification in June 2001.

Purpose of this document

3.2 The Director has revised this section to clarify that the Functional Specification rules apply to fixed and mobile licensees with a number portability or mobile number portability condition. The rules also apply to Systemless Service Providers by virtue of the Number Portability Regulations.

Scope of Portability

3.3 The Director has made minor amendments reflecting changes to the references to the National Numbering Conventions. With regard to mobile number ranges, the Director has deleted the references to porting between analogue and digital networks. Analogue networks have now closed. The Director has also amended the final paragraph referring to the class licences. References to dates have been removed given the frequency with which such licences are revoked and reissued.

Definitions

3.4 The Director has added a definition clarifying references to the Number Portability Regulations. Again, where appropriate, references to parts of the National Numbering Conventions have been updated.

Section 1, Donor Operator’s Rules

Rule 4

3.5 The Director has accepted a proposed amendment that enables Recipient Operator’s to use prefixes in a less restricted way than rigid identification of the relevant switch in the Recipient Operator’s network. Prefixes therefore may alternatively identify a "network node".

Rule 7

3.6 The Director has amended the first sentence to clarify that it is the Subscriber Number which is ported, not the Subscriber.

Section 2, Recipient Operator’s Rules

Rule 3

3.7 The Director has made a minor change to clarify that the Recipient Operator recognises the Number, not the call, in cases where calls to ported numbers originate on the same local switch as that to which the ported number is held.

Rule 4

3.8 For reasons set out in paragraphs 2.14 to 2.16 of this statement, the Director has decided to maintain rule 4 of the Functional Specification, Issue no 3 of 30 June 1998, for the time being.

Section 4, Common Rules

Rule 3

3.9 The Director has deleted "electric" CLI and replaced it with the term "network" so that the terminology reflects that used in current CLI codes of practice. The reference to the European Directive has been deleted as this has now been implemented.

Rule 5 (a)

3.10 The Director has clarified this rule to make clear the circumstances where a Donor Operator may re-allocate numbers which have previously been ported.

Rule 10

3.11 The Director has inserted "and/or" instead of "or" to further clarify that porting may occur between any combination of Operators and Service Providers.

Annexes A and B

3.12 The Director has deleted non-conformant number ranges and referred, where possible, to those numbers in sub-ranges of Number Ranges specified in the National Numbering Conventions.

Annex A

Number portability functional specification

Issue No: 4 - GEOGRAPHIC, NON-GEOGRAPHIC AND MOBILE PORTABILITY

12 September 2002

Contents

• Purpose of this document
• Scope of Portability
• Definitions

Rules of the Functional Specification

Purpose of this document

Operator or Service Provider Portability is a facility that ultimately allows subscribers to change the telecommunications company providing service while keeping their telephone number. Telecommunications Act licences and the free standing implementing statutory Regulations of the Numbering Directive (98/61/EC) set out that Portability and Mobile Portability should be provided by one telecommunication Operator or Service Provider to another in accordance with the Functional Specification.

The Functional Specification sets out: (i) the technical and operational scope of the Portability facility to be provided; (ii) specific rules relating to processes to be carried out by telecommunications Operators and, as the case may be, Systemless Service Providers, which are necessary to ensure the efficient provision of Portability between providers of publicly available telephone services; and (iii) some general rules and other principles concerning the efficient use of Numbers where Portability services are being provided.

The rules contained in the Functional Specification apply both to relevant fixed network operators and, to the extent they are capable of doing so, Systemless Service Providers by virtue of a licence condition entitled "Number Portability" inserted into certain licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 and regulation 8 of the Telecommunications (Interconnection) (Number Portability, etc.) Regulations 1999, S.I. 1999 No 3449 (the "Number Portability Regulations"), respectively. As a result of the legal obligation on Systemless Service Providers to provide any requested Portability on reasonable terms and in accordance with the Functional Specification, it is likely that such Providers will request Portability, under the relevant license condition, from their underlying network operator and enter into contractual arrangements with licensed operators in order to comply with these Rules. The Functional Specification rules also apply to mobile operators by virtue of a licence condition entitled "Mobile Number Portability" inserted into certain licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

Scope of Portability

In January 2000, Oftel implemented the number portability provisions of the Numbering Directive (98/61/EC) by virtue of the provisions in the Number Portability Regulations. This revision of the Functional Specification reflects the changes brought about by the Numbering Directive and other changes considered necessary.

The Number Portability licence condition and the Number Portability Regulations require that Subscribers should be able, if they wish, to keep their telephone numbers when they change the Operator or Service Provider providing their fixed telecommunications services.

In order to allow Subscribers to retain their telephone number when they change the Operator or Service Provider supplying services, numbers in the Geographic Number Ranges (currently described in the Numbering Conventions Part A3) and Non Geographic Number Ranges (currently described in the Numbering Conventions Parts A5 - A7) are required to be portable. The Number Portability Regulations do not cover portability for mobile and paging number ranges (these number ranges are currently set out in the Numbering Conventions Part A5). The requirement to provide a Portability facility to other mobile operators in respect of mobile number ranges is set out in licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 to mobile public telecommunication operators.

A summary of non geographic numbers from the Non Geographic Number Range that are required to be portable can be found at Annex A.

Annex B sets out those mobile number ranges that are required to be portable.

The lists of number ranges or categories set out in the Annexes may be updated from time to time by means of information notes published by Oftel in the Numbering Bulletin. The updates will be consolidated each time a new Issue of the Functional Specification is published.

This fourth issue of the Functional Specification relates to Geographic Portability, Non-Geographic Number Portability, Mobile Portability and Portability in general (such as in the case of portability requirements under, for instance, regulation 8 of the Number Portability Regulations and the class licences granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 to run branch systems to provide telecommunications services and to provide international simple voice resale services, commonly referred to as the TSL and ISVR, respectively).

Further issues of the Functional Specification will deal with any other changes to its existing Rules that may become necessary.

Definitions

Donor Operator

The Operator or Service Provider whose Subscriber Number(s) are in the process of being, or have been passed or ported to a Recipient Operator.

E.164

Recommendation E.164 is the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU-T’s) Recommendation addressing the Numbering Plan for the ISDN era.

Geographic Mobility

A service offered by an Operator (or, as the case may be, a Service Provider) to its Subscribers whereby the calls to a Subscriber Number are routed to a new address.

Non Geographic Number Range

A number range from the Specified Numbering Scheme relating to Numbers other than those in the Geographic Number Range and excepting numbers allocated for Mobile Radio Telecommunications Services and Radiopaging Services.

Number Portability Regulations

An abbreviation of The Telecommunications (Interconnection)(Number Portability, etc.) Regulations 1999, S.I. 1999 No 3449.

Operator

Any person authorised to provide telecommunications services not being prohibited from receiving any financial benefit from their provision, and obliged by virtue of provisions in the Licence authorising the provision of such services to adopt a Numbering Plan for such Numbers as may have been allocated by the Director to that person in accordance with the National Numbering Conventions.

Parallel Running

A facility provided by an Operator when any Numbering Range is in the process of being changed and in order to assist users of the network to adjust to such a change, a caller may for a limited period of time dial a Number which has been superceded by another Number and still be connected to the called party.

Ported Number

A Subscriber Number in relation to which the facility of Portability is in the process of being or has been provided.

Personal Numbers

Numbers as defined in the National Numbering Conventions (currently in Part A5).

Recipient Operator

The Operator or Service Provider to whom Subscriber Number(s) are in the process of being, or have been passed or ported from a Donor Operator.

SCCP

The signalling connection control part (SCCP) provides, in signalling system No.7, additional features to transfer circuit related, non-circuit related signalling information, and other types of information between exchanges and specialised centres in telecommunications networks.

Service Area (applies to Geographic Portability only)

That part of the licensed area of a Donor Operator within which, at the time that any request for Simultaneous or Subsequent Geographic Mobility is made by another operator in respect of a Customer Number, the Donor Operator would provide such Geographic Mobility in respect of that Subscriber Number as part of its standard provisioning practice. For the avoidance of doubt, the Service Area does not mean any larger area other than that defined by reference to such Geographic Number Ranges serving a particular exchange or area code under the Specified Numbering Scheme.

Service Number

A Number from within the Numbering Ranges designated in the National Numbering Conventions for mobile services which is used as an internal number for the provision of messaging or similar value-added services.

Service Provider

Any person who is in the business of providing telecommunications services of any description.

Simultaneous Geographic Mobility

A service offered on a voluntary basis by a Recipient Operator to its Subscribers whereby Subscriber Numbers may be retained while simultaneously changing Operator (or, as the case may be, Service Provider) and moving to a new address.

Specially Tariffed Services

A full list of Specially Tariffed Services and Personal Numbers is set out in Annex A.

Freephone: as defined in National Numbering Conventions (currently in Part A6).

Local Rate: as defined in National Numbering Conventions (currently in Part A6).

National Rate: as defined in National Numbering Conventions (currently in Part A6).

Premium Rate: as defined in National Numbering Conventions (currently in Part A7).

Subscriber

Any natural or legal person who or which is party to a contract with a provider of publicly available telecommunication services for the supply of such services.

Subscriber Number

The Number (or Numbers) which any Operator’s (or, as the case may be, Service Provider’s) telecommunication system recognises as relating to a particular Subscriber of that Operator (or, as the case may be, of a Service Provider).

Subsequent Geographic Mobility

A service offered on a voluntary basis by a Recipient Operator to its Subscribers whereby, if a Subscriber Number becomes a Ported Number, it may be retained if the Subscriber subsequently moves to a new address.

Subsequent Portability

A type of Portability where the Donor Operator retrieves a Subscriber Number from a Recipient Operator to whom that Number has been previously ported and ports it to a second Recipient Operator.

Systemless Service Provider

A person who provides publicly available telecommunication services but who does not run a telecommunications system within the meaning of section 4 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 by means of which such services are provided.

Transit Operator

An Operator providing, by agreement, interconnection between a Donor Operator and a Recipient Operator via Points of Connection with both Operators.

Other definitions

Other definitions, which have not been ascribed a meaning above, used in this Functional Specification shall have the meanings ascribed to them in any Operator’s licence granted under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984 or in that Act itself, as appropriate.

Rules of the functional specification

Section 1: Donor operator's rules

It is a Donor Operator’s responsibility to ensure that all calls destined for Ported Numbers, subject to any network management actions reasonably undertaken in order to maintain network integrity and, in response to abnormal demands, are dealt with in a manner conforming to the following rules:

Rule 1

Calls to a Ported Number, whether originating on the Donor Operator’s network or received from other networks, are passed to the Recipient Operator over one or more Points of Connection as agreed between the Donor and Recipient Operators, unless there is no direct interconnection between them, in which case the Donor Operator shall ensure that calls to the Ported Number are passed to the Recipient Operator by means of a Transit Operator.

Rule 2

If the Donor Operator’s ability to provide Portability in respect of new Subscriber Numbers, in accordance with the Number Portability Regulations, becomes restricted due to unforeseen constraints on switching or processing capacity, the Donor Operator shall promptly notify relevant Recipient Operators and Oftel.

Rule 3

To the extent that Parallel Running of any groups of numbers is permitted by the National Numbering Conventions, the Donor Operator shall be able to recognise a ported Subscriber on the basis of receiving a call for the ported Subscriber based on his original and new numbers.

Rules relating specifically to Geographic and Non-Geographic Portability

Rule 4

Subject to Rule 5, before handing over each call to a Ported Number in a Recipient Operator’s network, the Donor Operator shall ensure that a six-digit prefix commencing with the number 5 (‘5xxxxx’), allocated for the purpose by the Oftel Numbering Unit to the Recipient Operator, and providing the identity of the Recipient Operator and, in the case of Geographic Portability, the relevant switch or network node in the Recipient Operator’s network, is inserted before the full national number.

Rule 5

Oftel Numbering Unit will allocate prefixes commencing with numbers between 504000 to 505999 for use solely in connection with Non-Geographic Portability. Within that block, prefixes commencing 5049 shall not be passed across Points of Connection, being reserved for internal network use by all Operators in connection with Non-Geographic Portability.

Rule 6

Subject to Rule 5, prefixes commencing with the number 5 shall be used in relation to Portability by the Donor Operator, and for no purpose other than to identify the Recipient Operator and, in the case of Geographic Portability, the relevant switch in its network.

Rules relating specifically to Mobile Portability:

Rule 7

The Donor Operator shall, on receipt of a call for a ported Subscriber Number, either:

- relay a signalling enquiry message to the recipient network, with an SCCP re-routing code in the International E.164 format +44799x abcdefghi.

For signalling messages in respect of circuit-related calls, this enables the Recipient Operator to provide onward routing instructions back to the Donor Operator’s network in:

- either standard Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number E.164 International format sufficient to identify the called party within the recipient network

- or in the form of an Intermediate Routing Number (IRN) either in E.164 International format +44799x abc defghi or, in E.164 National format 799x abc defghi, to route the call into the recipient network, and allow the donor operator to forward the call appropriately.

For non-circuit related signalling messages, the Recipient Operator responds to the Donor Operator according to standard GSM procedures.

- or, for circuit-related calls, directly provide, as an option, on notification to the Recipient Operator’s network, its own routing instructions to enable direction of such calls to the Recipient Operator’s network and identification of the ported Subscriber using an IRN, without relaying an enquiry to the Recipient Operator’s network.

In the above, x is a digit identifying the Recipient Operator’s network; abc defghi represent called Subscriber number digits.

Section 2: Recipient operator's rules

It is a Recipient Operator’s responsibility to ensure that all calls made to Ported Numbers, subject to any network management actions reasonably undertaken in order to maintain network integrity and, in response to abnormal demands, are correctly delivered once they are correctly received from the Donor Operator, and in particular the following rules apply:

Rule 1

In the absence of call forwarding, application of the basic porting process shall not result in the looping of calls through any set of nodes between public network operator’s networks.

Rule 2

The Recipient Operator shall inform the Donor Operator of any change in the circumstances of the service associated with any Ported Number that may impact the Donor Operator’s ability to route calls to that Ported Number. (This includes, inter alia, in the case of Geographic Portability, transfer of Numbers to another exchange in the Recipient Operator’s network, change in the size of circuit group for transferred PBX and Centrex Subscribers, and Subsequent Geographic Mobility, and, in the case of Non-Geographic Portability, significant changes in call traffic volumes expected to be generated.)

Rules relating specifically to Geographic Portability:

Rule 3

Where a call to a Ported Number originates on the same local exchange as that on which the Ported Number is held, the Recipient Operator shall recognise the Number and route that call and terminate it within its telecommunication system, unless the Donor Operator has agreed that the call may be passed back to the Donor Operator via a Point of Connection for recognition and re-routing.

Rule 4

A Recipient Operator shall only provide Simultaneous or Subsequent Geographic Mobility to a Subscriber in respect of a Subscriber Number ported from a Donor Operator within the Service Area of the Donor Operator.

Rules relating specifically to Non-Geographic and Mobile Portability:

Rule 5

Where a call to a ported non-geographic or mobile number originates on the same network as that on which the Ported Number is held, the Recipient Operator may recognise that call and route and terminate it within its telecommunication system, but in the absence of such an arrangement the call shall be passed to the Donor Operator via a Point of Connection for recognition and re-routing.

Rules relating specifically to Mobile Portability:

Rule 6

On receipt of an SCCP enquiry message relating to a circuit related call from a Donor Operator indicating that the Donor Operator has a call for a Ported Number, the Recipient Operator shall provide onward routing instructions back to the Donor Operator’s network:

- in either standard Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number E.164 International format sufficient to identify the called party within the Recipient Operator’s network; or

- in the form of an Intermediate Routing Number (IRN) either in E.164 International format +44799x abc defghi or, in E.164 National format 799x abc defghi, to enable the Donor Operator to route the call into the Recipient Operator’s network. Digits after the Mobile Number Portability prefix (+44799x) may be manipulated by the Recipient Operator’s network to include additional routing information within the IRN.

For non-circuit related signalling messages, the Recipient Operator responds to the Donor Operator according to standard GSM procedures.

Section 3: Transit operator's rules

Rules relating specifically to Geographic and Non-geographic Portability:

Rule 1

A Transit Operator shall, when a call is received over a Point of Connection from a Donor Operator with the distinguishing 6 digit prefix 5xxxxx inserted before the full national Number, deliver the call to the appropriate Point of Connection of the Recipient Operator with the 6-digit prefix intact.

Rules relating specifically to Mobile Number Portability:

Rule 2

An Operator providing SCCP transit functionality between the Donor and Recipient Operator’s networks shall support relay of a signalling enquiry message to the Recipient Operator’s network, with an SCCP re-routing code in the International E.164 format +44799x abc defghi.

Transit Operators’ networks providing call routing between qualifying networks shall support the routing of IRNs either in the E.164 International format +44799x abc defghi or, in the E.164 National format 799x abc defghi.

Section 4: Common rules

Rule 1

10,000 Number Blocks (not applicable to Mobile Number Portability)

Where an entire block of 10,000 Subscriber Numbers is transferred from a Donor Operator to a Recipient Operator, the Donor Operator shall notify the Oftel Numbering Scheme Manager to this effect. Such blocks shall be transferred using the same technical method - amendments to the routing tables of switches on the Donor (and all other) Operator’s systems - as would be used if a new 10,000 number block had been opened up by the Recipient Operator, and by this means all calls to numbers in that block will be automatically routed to their correct location. For the avoidance of doubt, the six digit-prefix commencing with the number 5 shall not need to be used to route calls to a number block that has been transferred in this way.

Rule 2

Number Block Ownership (not applicable to Mobile Number Portability)

(a) Having regard to the National Numbering Conventions, where a Donor Operator loses 60% or more of its Subscriber Numbers to any Recipient Operators, and at least 40% of those Subscriber Numbers are handled by one Recipient Operator, the Donor Operator (or that Recipient Operator) may apply to Oftel’s Numbering Scheme Manager for re-allocation of that block to that Recipient Operator.

(b) Oftel will retain absolute discretion as to whether to re-allocate such numbers in these circumstances. However, the following factors will be taken into account when reaching a decision:

Rule 3

CLI Procedures

The originating caller’s network or presentation CLI settings shall be maintained by any operator handling a call to a Ported Number wherever possible, or set to ‘number unavailable’ if not. The status of presentation restriction shall be maintained according to the relevant codes of practice.

Rule 4

Call Routing

All calls to Ported Numbers, including calls handled by Transit Operators, shall use routing which minimises call set-up delay, commensurate with the technical capabilities of the systems and having regard to the implementation costs.

Rule 5

Number Allocation and Conservation

In addition to their general obligations as set out in the National Numbering Conventions, all operators shall share responsibility for ensuring that the provision of Portability does not jeopardise the proper administration of the Specified Numbering Scheme. The following rules therefore apply:

(a) The Donor Operator shall maintain a list of Ported Numbers with a view to ensuring that it makes no attempt to reallocate any such number unless it is given up by the ported Subscriber. The Recipient Operator shall inform the Donor Operator when a Subscriber has given up a Ported Number. For the avoidance of doubt, the Donor Operator may reallocate any such number after having being informed by the Recipient Operator that a Subscriber has given up a Ported Number.

(b) In addition to the requirements placed upon them by the National Numbering Conventions to maintain a record of the percentage use of their numbering allocation, Donor Operators shall at intervals agreed with Oftel, notify Oftel’s Numbering Scheme Manager of the quantity of Ported Numbers in each allocated block in their networks.

Rule 6

Subsequent Portability

With the aim of ensuring that service to the Subscriber using the Number is provided with as little disruption as possible, the Recipient Operators shall co-operate with each other in ensuring that any Recipient Operator who wins the Subscriber’s business at that Number from another Recipient Operator is informed of the identity of the Donor Operator, and the Donor Operator shall co-operate with both Recipient Operators in establishing arrangements for Portability to be provided.

Rule 7

Migration of Number Length

Where a Donor Operator intends to substitute Numbers with more digits than those in the same block as any Ported Number or provide parallel running associated with such numbers, the Donor Operator shall give the Recipient Operator sufficient advance notice of the approximate date of the planned substitution or introduction of parallel running to enable the Recipient Operator to make appropriate technical arrangements to ensure a smooth handover. Generally, the Donor Operator should be able to provide three months’ advance notice of the exact date of substitution or introduction of parallel running, subject to any practical difficulties which may affect that date by a reasonable period of time. The Donor Operator shall provide to the Recipient Operator the longer Number which corresponds to that Ported Number. The Recipient Operator shall ensure that, concurrent with the Donor Operator’s substitution of the longer Number block for the shorter Number block, the Ported Number is also substituted.

Rule 8

Specially Tariffed Numbers

• Portability shall not result in any change in the category of Specially Tariffed Service being offered to the calling party. The categories of Specially Tariffed Services are listed in the definition of Specially Tariffed Services and the corresponding number ranges are set out in Annex A. Where any Specially Tariffed Service is divided into sub-categories delineated by number prefixes within the range allocated to a particular type of Specially Tariffed Service, Portability shall not result in any change in the relevant sub-category offered to the calling party.
• Where the calling party is a Subscriber of the Operator (or, as the case may be, a Service Provider) to whom any Number for Specially Tariffed Services has been ported, the tariff paid by calling party should not significantly increase or decrease as a result of the porting of any Subscriber Number which is a Number for Specially Tariffed Services.

Rule 9

Premium Rate Service Numbers

Under no circumstances should service providers be allowed to port premium rate service numbers merely to by-pass the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) Code(s) of Practice.

Rule 10

Service Providers Timely Porting

Where an Operator has directly sub-allocated any Numbers to any Systemless Service Provider, it shall ensure that those Numbers remain capable of being ported in a timely manner between Operators and/or Service Providers. Mobile operators shall ensure that, where they provide mobile services by means of a Service Provider, any Number they sub-allocate to the Service Provider remains capable of being ported.

Where a Portability facility is already in place, the provision of Number Portability to Subscribers should not significantly add to the time it would normally take to provide a service where Number Portability is not involved irrespective of the number of Service Providers involved. Any Service Provider or Operator receiving a legitimate request to port a Number shall port the Number in a timely manner.

Rule 11

Process Manuals

The agreed text of any process manual relating to the provision of Portability can be found on Oftel’s Web site (www.oftel.gov.uk - under the number portability section of numbering information). It is the responsibility of the industry group producing the manual to ensure that any updates of the manual and any related forms are forwarded to Oftel in order to ensure that the latest version is available.

Annex A:

Numbering Ranges for Specially Tariffed Services and Personal Numbers

1. Freephone

Numbers beginning:

0500
Numbers in the sub-ranges of the 080 number range allocated for use with any services consistent with the Numbering Conventions (currently Part A6).

2. Local Rate

Numbers in the sub-ranges of the 084 number range allocated for use with any services consistent with the Numbering Conventions (currently Part A6).

4. National Rate

Numbers in the sub-ranges of the 087 number range allocated for use with any services consistent with the Numbering Conventions (currently Part A6).

5. Other

Numbers beginning

082 Internet for schools

6. Premium Rate

Numbers in sub-ranges of the 090 and 091 number ranges allocated for use with any services consistent with the Numbering Conventions (currently Part A7).

7. Personal Numbers

Numbers in sub-ranges of the 070 number range allocated for use with any services consistent with the Numbering Conventions (currently Part A5). Personal Numbers are not Specially Tariffed Services.

Annex B:

Numbering Ranges –for Mobile Services

Numbers beginning:

077
078
079

Annex B

B.1 The consultative document on revisions to the number portability Functional Specification was published in June 2001 and responses requested by 14 September 2001. Responses were received from:

1 Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications

2 ntl Group Limited

3 Vodafone Limited

4 Colt Telecommunications

5 British Telecommunications plc

6 Telewest Communications

7 Energis plc

8 Cable & Wireless plc