01987 telephone code for Ebbsfleet

Proposals to accommodate geographic number demand in the Ebbsfleet region

Background to 01987 Number

1.1 As part of the Thames Gateway Delivery Plan as set out by Communities and Local Government1, the area of Ebbsfleet, Kent, is currently seeing the construction of new large developments.

1.2 Situated between Dartford and Gravesend and south of Swanscombe, the main development, Ebbsfleet Valley, is located on the site of a disused quarry. Developed by Land Securities, Ebbsfleet Valley will contain approximately 10,000 homes, along with 6 million sq. ft of commercial space and 3 million sq ft of retail, leisure and community facilities. By 2026, total housing in the Kent Thameside area, including Ebbsfleet Valley, is projected to reach 25,000 homes.

1.3 In January 2008, UK operator BT unveiled details of plans to roll out its next generation of telecommunications network in Ebbsfleet Valley. From August 2008, fibre-optic cable will be used instead of copper to connect homes on Land Securities’ 1,000-acre housing project. This is BT's first major project of this kind and is expected to enable a broadband product to be offered with speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

1.4 The new developments in the Ebbsfleet area will create demand for geographic telephone numbers, which will be difficult to accommodate within the existing area codes for that region. In order to accommodate the new demand, we are putting forward two proposals in this consultation, of which our initial preference is for the creation of a new code (01987) for Ebbsfleet.

Increasing demand for new numbers will put strain on existing area codes

1.5 The Ebbsfleet area is currently covered by two area codes, Dartford (01322) and Gravesend (01474).

1.6 Demand for numbers in both area codes is already high. Even before the new developments in Ebbsfleet, the codes are experiencing strain and are at risk of exhaustion:

1.6.1 Dartford has already been designated a Conservation Area, and provisions have been made to increase the efficient use of numbers in that area which has helped address the potential scarcity in this area by reducing number block allocations from 10k to 1k blocks per provider.

1.6.2 Gravesend is not currently a Conservation Area, but given current trends in demand for numbers in Gravesend (excluding the Ebbsfleet development) we anticipate consulting on proposals including whether to designate Gravesend as a Conservation Area in the near future to manage existing demand levels.

1.7 We expect that the Ebbsfleet development may require up to 100,000 additional end user numbers, the first of which are required for the first residents to move in over the summer of 2008.

1.8 While the anticipated Ebbsfleet demand could be accommodated in the current ranges, it would lead to a significant reduction in numbers available in Dartford and Gravesend and therefore we would very soon need to consider further measures to increase supply in those areas.

Options considered for accommodating demand for new numbers from Ebbsfleet

1.9 We have considered two options that we believe could address the anticipated demand for new numbers in Ebbsfleet:

1.9.1 Option 1: Allocate a new number range specifically for Ebbsfleet

1.9.2 Option 2: Allocate an overlay code for Dartford and Gravesend

Option 1: Allocate a new number range specifically for Ebbsfleet

1.10 This option would involve allocating a new area code to the Ebbsfleet area. Creating a new code will alleviate any pressure on existing codes caused by the development at Ebbsfleet.

1.11 The area code we propose is 01987. This has been selected on the basis that it has never previously been allocated to any geographic area, and is significantly different from neighbouring Dartford and Gravesend codes. This is intended to limit the risk of misdialling.

1.12 The boundaries have been drawn up in liaison with BT, the provider constructing the telecommunications network in the development, based on the locations of their planned exchanges that will serve the area. The boundaries essentially follow the limits of the Ebbsfleet Valley development, with the exception of Ebbsfleet International Station, which will also be included in the geographic area for this number range. The proposed boundary forms part of this consultation.

1.13 Currently there are only a small number of users within the proposed designated area, with BT estimating that there are only up to 50 lines in use. Most of these users are based at the recently opened Ebbsfleet International Station.

1.14 Whilst these users may wish to migrate to a new Ebbsfleet number, this will not be obligatory. Customers in Ebbsfleet will be allowed to continue to use their existing numbers as “out of area” codes following the introduction of the new Ebbsfleet range if they so choose, in accordance with Ofcom’s National Telephone Numbering Plan3.

1.15 Therefore, we expect migration costs for these users will be minimal, amounting to a potential maximum cost of up to £10,000 if all lines were to migrate. However, as migrations will be voluntary, a realistic figure will be well below this.

1.16 We also recognise there will be costs imposed on network operators to accommodate a new numbering range.

1.17 We consider that the overall costs highlighted above would be small compared with the costs of any potential forced migrations from Dartford or Gravesend area codes at a later stage when these number ranges are depleted.

1.18 Given the logistical ease of allocating a new code to the Ebbsfleet area at a point where it is a developing area, and the minimal costs of migration for those already using numbers in the area, for these reasons, opening a new area code is Ofcom’s initial preferred option.

Option 2: Allocate an overlay code for Dartford and Gravesend

1.19 In Ofcom’s Statement on Safeguarding the Future of Numbers in September 2006, which followed from our Consultations in February 20065 6 and July 2006 , we discussed the possibility of using overlay codes for certain areas where geographic numbers have been exhausted or were likely to be exhausted in the near future.

1.20 Overlay codes are new codes allocated to existing geographical areas to create additional number ranges for that area. In effect, there would be two area codes assigned to the same geographical area.

1.21 As discussed in the September 2006 Statement, we consider the use of overlay codes as a potential fallback option to be used only when number ranges are at the risk of exhaustion.

1.22 This is because while overlay codes increase the availability of numbers for an area, they also have disadvantages. Overlay codes cause minimal disruption to existing consumers as they generate additional numbers without requiring a number change in that area. However, certain changes to dialling behaviour would be required as some consumers within a geographic area with an overlay code would not be able to dial some local numbers without using an area code. This may lead to some confusion among consumers and there may be a perceived loss of geographic significance, particularly from businesses who might believe that it creates a commercial disadvantage for those who are on the new numbers.

1.23 As described in our 2006 consultations, there is general preference among consumers to maintain the ability to dial local numbers without an area code.

1.24 If Ofcom were to apply overlay codes in this instance, it would affect both Dartford and Gravesend regions, areas that are much larger and contain many more people than the Ebbsfleet region. There are some 1.2 million numbers currently allocated in Dartford and Gravesend. In order to minimise the confusion arising from having two codes for the same area, we would have to carry out extensive publicity and marketing to promote the code.

Initial conclusions

1.25 The Ebbsfleet Valley development has created additional demand for telephone numbers that would be difficult to accommodate in the existing ranges in Dartford and Gravesend, as conservation measures are already in place or will soon be required in these areas.

1.26 This means that accommodating Ebbsfleet on existing codes will not remove the need for further measures in the future, at which point greater numbers of consumers are likely to be impacted.

1.27 While creating overlay codes (option 2) for Dartford and Gravesend is possible, it has an impact on many more consumers than option 1. Overlay codes can be confusing and there is the need to carry out substantial marketing for the code to increase awareness alongside a launch.

1.28 Option 1 offers the greater simplicity and attractiveness of not disrupting the existing Dartford and Gravesend supply of numbers. This leads leading to lower costs of implementation overall and causes disruption to significantly fewer consumers.

1.29 We therefore propose to create of a new number range for Ebbsfleet (Option 1).

For more information see www.ofcom.org.uk

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