Section 56 of the Communications Act 2003 requires Ofcom to publish a National Telephone Numbering Plan and to review that Plan as required; Section 63 of the Act requires Ofcom to seek the best use of appropriate telephone numbers and to encourage efficiency and innovation.
Therefore, Ofcom has today set out an outline of its overall approach to telephone numbering, including details of plans to add an extra number sub-range for use across Greater London - 020 3 - to join the existing numbers beginning 020 7 and 020 8 which will continue to be used across the capital.
Extra numbers for London
Ofcom will make the extra 020 3 London numbers available to telecoms providers from summer 2005. Key points to note are:
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There is no change to existing London 020 numbers beginning 020 7 and 020 8. Residential and business customers do not need to change any of their existing numbers, and new 020 7 and 020 8 numbers will continue to be issued by telecoms providers to customers throughout 2005 and beyond. The area code for Greater London was changed to 020 in 2000; Ofcom is now adding an additional sub-range to the 020 code which will complement rather than replace the 020 7 and 020 8 numbers used today.
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From summer 2005 onwards, telecoms providers may begin to offer 020 3 numbers to people and organisations requesting new numbers in London. However, many providers also have multiple blocks of 020 7 and 020 8 numbers which they have not yet issued to customers; Ofcom therefore anticipates that the use of additional 020 3 numbers will emerge gradually over time.
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The addition of the 020 3 sub-range now will help ensure that Ofcom is able to meet the needs of a growing city without having to resort to further, more disruptive measures in the future. Demand for new telephone numbers from London businesses and residential users is forecast to increase in future years. Additional numbers using the extra 020 3 sub-range will be offered to residential and business customers across the Greater London area.
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Ofcom will begin a public information campaign in early autumn 2004 to ensure that residential and business customers are aware of the addition of extra 020 3 numbers before these begin to be allocated from next summer.
Ofcom's approach to telephone numbering
The addition of 020 3 for London is part of Ofcom's wider approach to telephone numbering, an outline of which is also set out today.
Ofcom will seek to achieve three key aims:
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To plan ahead to meet current and future demand for all types of telephone numbers without causing significant disruption.
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To retain sufficient flexibility to cope with unforeseen changes in consumer behaviour, in technology and in developments in different parts of the United Kingdom.
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To maintain stability by avoiding change for change's sake.
Ofcom will seek to ensure that all proposed developments are:
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Informed ahead of time by research and by the views of a broad range of stakeholders.
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Necessary, proportionate and readily understandable.
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Likely to yield consumer and industry benefits in the long-term which outweigh any potential costs of change.
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Sufficiently forewarned with a clear and coherent timetable.
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Coordinated at the UK, EU and international level.
Ofcom intends to place as great an emphasis on the public communication of developments in numbering as on the policy work underpinning the implementation of those developments. The need for this approach was made clear in the recent research undertaken by Ofcom and ICSTIS into the progress of the liberalised Directory Enquiries market initiated by Oftel in 2002.
In its public information activity Ofcom will seek:
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To inform the public early and often as part of a coordinated communications campaign. Where appropriate Ofcom will seek to provide at least two years' notice of any development which would require residential and business users to make substantial changes to the numbers they dial. Developments which do not require a change in dialling will begin to be communicated as required at least six months ahead of time.
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To use a range of communications channels to ensure that all groups, including the most marginalised, are suitably aware of planned developments.
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To use clear and consistent language throughout, in multiple languages and accessibility formats where required.
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To work with telecoms providers where all share a mutual goal to provide accurate and neutral information.
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To seek additional means of developing public understanding where providers will be in competition with each other and are therefore less likely to provide neutral information.
