Availability of Numbering Resource

1.1 This statement sets out Ofcom's (the Office of Communications) decisions in relation to giving an additional 91 geographic area codes conservation status, making additional numbers available for Number Translation Services ('NTS') and modifications to the National Telephone Numbering Plan ('the Plan') and specific Numbering Application Forms. It follows on from our consultation Availability of Numbering Resource published on 6 March 2007 ('the March 2007 consultation').

1.2 The March 2007 consultation sought views on Ofcom's proposals to ensure the ongoing availability of numbers in geographic area codes and for NTS. It also sought views on Ofcom's proposals to modify the Plan and make changes to application forms S1 (Geographic), S8 (NTS) and S18 (Reseller Identification Codes ('RID').

1.3 The March 2007 consultation did not propose any changes to geographic numbers. Instead of such changes it proposed further number conservation measures to ensure the ongoing supply of geographic numbers as these measures would incur the least disruption and cost. Geographic conservation measures create a tenfold increase in the quantity of telephone number blocks available for allocation by reducing the size of number blocks allocated to communications providers from 10,000 to 1,000 numbers.

1.4 Geographic number conservation measures are central to Ofcom's strategic approach to managing geographic numbering. This approach is expected to be sufficient to meet current levels of demand.

1.5 To ensure the continued availability of numbers for NTS, additional resources are needed. Two new ranges were proposed to supplement the current 0871 numbers and one new range was proposed to supplement the 0844 range.

1.6 The March 2007 consultation proposed modifications to the Plan to ensure it reflects accurately the numbers available for allocation. It also proposed changes to the RID application form to ensure that it was aligned to current allocation criteria.

1.7 Ofcom received eight submissions during the consultation period and has considered these responses in reaching the conclusions set out in this statement. Ofcom has decided that:

• all 91 geographic area codes should be given conservation status immediately;
• 0872 and 0873 shall be made available to supplement 0871 and 0843 shall be made available to supplement 0844;
• the Plan and the application forms should be modified as proposed in the March 2007 consultation. The final notification of the modifications to the provisions of the Plan and the direction under condition 17.9 in respect of the application forms are in Annex 4 and 5 of this statement. The modifications come into immediate effect on publication.

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