Mobile numbers could be 05 as 04 numbers dry up

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 20 December 2011 11:36

IT Policy - Regulation

The ACMA is proposing to allocate numbers beginning 05 to mobile services in expectation of the current 04 range becoming exhausted by 2017.

However it has also identified significant inefficiencies in the way mobile service providers are allocating the current 04 range and intends to introduce measures to ensure greater allocation efficiencies. The new 05 numbers would be allocated only as 04 numbers run out.

The proposal is one of two major initiatives detailed in an ACMA discussion paper released today. The other would see the geographic specificity of standard telephone numbers in capital cities greatly reduced in a bid to ensure more efficient allocation of these numbers.

For example Sydney is divided into five inner sectors and four outer sectors and number ranges identified by the first two digits are assigned to each sector. Under the ACMA's proposal the five inner sectors would become one single sector meaning that any of the numbers previously assigned to any of the five sectors could be used throughout the enlarged area.

Allocating 05 numbers to mobile service would increase the total available by 100 million. The number range is currently allocated to location independent communications services (LICS) (that is, services that are nomadic). Numbers beginning 0550 were once offered by Telstra under the name 'Telepath'. Users, via a web portal, could specify how calls to their 0550 number were terminated. According to the ACMA, there are only about 8000 services left in operation. However the one million numbers beginning 050 would, at least initially, not be allocated to mobile services.

Introduction of the new number range would impose a significant burden on the industry. The ACMA says this would include reprogramming customer and network equipment, modifying billing and front-of-house systems and amending documentation and marketing information."