Statement: Free-to-Caller Wholesale Regulation Review

Statement published 12 December 2025

This statement sets out the conclusions of our review of the wholesale rules which apply to free-to-caller (080 and 116) phone numbers. 

We introduced these rules in 2013 to ensure that businesses, charities and public sector organisations were able to provide access to a range of services to citizens and consumers on free-to-caller numbers, including services of social value. Free-to-caller access to these services may be valued by all consumers, and can be vital to those in vulnerable circumstances.

We have found these numbers still see a substantial level of use and therefore we consider that it is important to maintain our wholesale regulation to protect their continued availability. This is consistent with our strategic priority to support vulnerable consumers.

What we have decided – in brief

We have decided to retain the free-to-caller access conditions with two modifications:

• We are updating the list of terminating communications providers that are subject to the conditions, and 
• We are removing Condition 3, a notification requirement, which we consider to be now obsolete.

We have also made a minor update to the definition of ‘Public Pay Telephone’ as used in the access conditions to reflect the current wording in the General Conditions of Entitlement.

The modified version of the access conditions will come into force and replace the existing access conditions in six months’ time (with effect from 13 June 2026).