Businesses and consumers can look forward to using Chinese characters in their website address to better reach their customers or friends who prefer Chinese web addresses. The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC), the national registry for domain names, will be accepting initial registrations for Chinese Domain Names from 23 November 2009.

This opens up new options for domain names, as anyone can soon register for Web addresses such as .sg so that their target market or audience can better identify with them. SGNIC will offer these Chinese domain names at both 2nd and 3rd levels in all categories (namely, .sg, .com.sg, .gov.sg, .org.sg, .edu.sg, .net.sg, .per.sg). For instance, a 2nd level domain name would be .sg, while a 3rd level domain name would read as .com.sg.

See Press Release
Source: IDA Singapore

It was alleged to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) that sales agents for Irish ISP Eircom retail, could obtain the customer's Universal Account Number (UAN) from internal Eircom systems (thus avoiding the need for the consumer to provide this information). After investigations, remedial action was taken by Eircom and all issues have now been resolved.

See ComReg Information Notice
Source ComReg

A dos meses de haberse puesto en marcha el Registro Nacional de Usuarios de Telefonía Móvil (RENAUT), casi 9 millones de números telefónicos han sido registrados en todo el país. Según los cifras que arroja el RENAUT, durante el período comprendido entre el 10 de abril y el 10 de junio, 8 millones 729 mil 199 usuarios de telefonía móvil han registrado exitosamente su número telefónico en la base de datos que exprofeso ha diseñado la Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB).

Los usuarios de telefonía móvil en el país envían un mensaje de texto al 2877 con la palabra “Alta” (punto) seguida del nombre (punto), apellido (punto), así como su fecha de nacimiento, y unos segundos más tarde reciben en su aparato telefónico la confirmación de que su número ha quedado registrado en la base de datos.

See Press Release
Source: COFETEL - Comision Federal de Telecomunicaciones

Businesses and consumers can soon look forward to a new range of domain names that will offer exclusivity and be easy to remember. The Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC), Singapore’s national registry for domain names, will release Single-Character Domain Names (SCDN) such as WWW.A.SG, WWW.B.SG, WWW.C.SG, based on the 26 letters in the English alphabet series.

SCDN will join the family of pure numeric domain names released last year and add on to the vibrancy of the online scene here in Singapore as businesses, organisations and individuals will have more domain name options that were previously unavailable.

See Press Release
Source: IDA

Ofcom  published a consultation reviewing the 070 personal numbering range including proposals to support current enforcement action being carried out by PhonepayPlus in relation to scams on the 070 range and requiring communications providers to publish their tariffs for calls to 070 numbers more prominently and make them easier for consumers to understand.
 
The consultation can be found here.
Source: OFCOM
 

Ofcom  published a consultation on variations to BT’s Undertakings under the Enterprise Act 2002 in respect of: BT’s consultation principles with respect to the deployment of its Next Generation Network (NGN), and an obligation on BT to publish its NGN plan of record on a regular basis; the processes and products used to manage accommodation within BT’s exchanges; and the requirement to implement physical separation of certain computer network systems. The consultation document can be found here.  

Source: OFCOM
 

The European Commission  stepped up its efforts to promote the use of the charge-free European emergency number 112 in the EU. As of today, the new website ec.europa.eu/112 will tell citizens how to use 112 and what to expect from it, particularly when they travel within the EU. It also shows how 112 functions in each Member State: how quickly calls are answered and in which languages.

See Press Release and documents
Source: Europa

In a new round of infringement proceedings for EU Telecoms Rules, the European Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion (the second and final stage before the case is referred to the European Court of Justice) to Bulgaria and Romania. In both countries, the Single European Emergency number 112 is still not functioning properly. Meanwhile, two cases against Finland over the national regulator's powers have been closed, following national legislative amendments.

See Press Release
Source: Europa

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is proposing to change the way it rolls out new prefixes for telephone numbers in geographic areas.

The proposed new approach would identify all the new prefixes likely to be required in the next ten years in a single variation to the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997. The variation would also include a trigger that would only make the new prefixes available when there are no existing numbers available to meet an applicant’s request.

There are 38 areas that may require additional numbers in the next ten years. They comprise ten in the (02) Central East Region, ten in the (03) South East Region, seven in the (07) North East Region and 11 in the (08) Central and West Region (for more detail on the areas see backgrounder). Full press release

Source: ACMA, Australia

A fin de definir con claridad el uso de las bandas de frecuencias del espectro radioeléctrico y ofrecer seguridad jurídica a los inversionistas y usuarios de telecomunicaciones, la Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL) envió a la Comisión Federal de Mejora Regulatoria (COFEMER) el anteproyecto de actualización del Cuadro Nacional de Atribución de Frecuencias (CNAF) 2007 para su revisión.

La COFETEL solicitó la exención a la Manifestación de Impacto Regulatorio, pues el anteproyecto aprobado por el Pleno del órgano regulador no genera costos ni obligaciones a los particulares. Full press release

 

Source: COFETEL, Mexico

 

OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today initiated a public process to handle the telephone number shortage affecting the area code 613 region, which may result in the introduction of a new area code.

According to the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), area code 613 is expected to run out of telephone numbers by May 2012.

Full press release

Source: CRTC, Canada

On Tuesday, September 4, 2007, the ANRCTI President’s Decision no.2895/2007 on the National numbering plan was published in the Romanian Official Journal no.608. The decision provides that, starting May 3, 2008, the subscribers of all fixed telephone services providers may be called only if the national number (comprising 10 figures – national prefix „0” + geographic area indicative + local number) is dialled for both local and long-distance calls.

See Press Release

Source: ANRCTI

ANRCTI decided to sanction RCS & RDS with a fine of RON 100,000 since, as of August 30, 2007, the company has not published, including on its website, complete information regarding the number and addresses of all switches where the interconnection with the public telephony network it operates can be realized, for the purpose of call termination at fixed locations, thus breaching the obligation provided under art.4 of the ANRCTI President’s Decision no.2849/2007 on the interconnection with the public fixed telephone network operated by S.C. “RCS & RDS” – S.A., for the purpose of call termination at fixed locations, as well as committing the contravention stipulated in art.18 paragraph (1)  letter f) of the Government Ordinance no.34/2002. Moreover, ANRCTI obliged RCS & RDS to take all the necessary measures in order to publish, including on its website, the information mentioned above, by September 7, 2007.

Press release

Source : ANRCTI

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Report and Order (Order) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) adopted today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) clarified the roaming obligations of Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) providers, stating that automatic roaming is a common carrier obligation for CMRS carriers. Automatic roaming allows roaming mobile telephone customers to place calls as they do in their home coverage area, by simply entering a phone number and pressing “send.”

The FCC required CMRS carriers to provide roaming services to other carriers upon reasonable request and on a just, reasonable, and non-discriminatory basis under Sections 201 and 202 of the Communications Act. When a reasonable request is made by a technologically compatible CMRS carrier, a host CMRS carrier must provide automatic roaming to the requesting carrier outside of the requesting carrier’s home market. The FCC also decided to maintain its existing manual roaming requirement, which requires CMRS providers to permit customers of other carriers to roam manually on their networks, for example by supplying a credit card number, provided that the roamers’ handsets are technically capable of accessing the roamed-on network. Full Press release

Source: FCC, United States

Today, August 2, 2007, at the headquarters of the National Regulatory Authority for Communications and Information Technology (ANRCTI) took place the meeting of the Consultative Council, during which were debated: several decisions regarding numbering – the decision on the National Numbering Plan, the decision on the procedure for requesting and granting licences for the use of the numbering resources, the decision on establishing and collecting the tariffs for the use of numbering resources -, decisions relating to number portability – the decision amending and completing the ANRC President’s Decision no.144/2006 on the implementation of number portability and the decision regarding the adoption of certain technical and commercial conditions for the implementation of number portability, as well as the decision on the interconnection with the public fixed telephone network operated by S.C. “RCS & RDS” – S.A. for the purpose of call termination at fixed locations. Full Press Release

 

Source: ANRC, Romania

ANACOM - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações has approved the designation of the National Numbering Plan (NNP) ''92'' numbering range for the mobile telephone service. This decision follows a request made by TMN in April. The Portugal Telecom operator sought the allocation of rights to use new blocks of 10,000 numbers for the mobile telephone service, affirming that over 60% of the total resources allocated have already been assigned to active customers - a condition of accepting the request.

Given these circumstances and given the fact that the ''91'', ''93'' and ''96'' numbering ranges have already been exhausted, ANACOM will have to find the reserves necessary in the adjacent ranges ''92'', ''95'', ''97'', ''98'', ''99'' and ''90'' - note that the ''94'' range already incorporates codes for the Mobile trunking service and the mobile maritime service. Full Press Release

Source: ANACOM, Portugal

Por la cual se modifica el Capítulo II del Título XIII de la Resolución CRT 087 de 1997, se establecen algunas disposiciones relativas a los Planes Técnicos Básicos y a la administración de Códigos de operador para el servicio de Telefonía Pública Básica Conmutada de Larga Distancia y se dictan otras disposiciones.

Así mismo se publica el documento de respuesta a comentarios recibidos al proyecto de Resolución. Full Press Release 

Source: Comisión de Regulación de Telecomunicaciones (CRT), Colombia

 

 

Refinement of policies means new domain names on track for mid-2008, possible live evaluation of IDNs
Real progress has been demonstrated in key discussions at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 29th International Public Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “One of the real highlights of the San Juan meeting was the dialogue around issues that will impact the future of the Internet – especially new generic top-level domains and internationalized domain names,” said Dr Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN. ICANN has overseen two earlier extensions of the Internet space: the addition of seven TLDs, including .info and .name in 2000, and the addition of another six in a process that began in 2004. Full press release.

Source: ICANN

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Kurth: "Thoroughly examine new choices and quickly seize opportunities for savings during international roaming."

In Germany the Federal Network Agency is responsible for checking that the roaming regulation passed by the EU Parliament and the EU Council is implemented by companies for the benefit of their customers. The roaming regulation was today published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force tomorrow (Saturday). The regulation grants every roaming customer - be it a pre-paid or post-paid contract - the right to affordable tariffs.

The President of the Federal Network Agency, Matthias Kurth, appealed to both mobile phone companies and consumers to implement the new rules quickly and to make use of the benefits they offer. "After lengthy discussions the consumer now has the opportunity to efficiently limit his international roaming costs. What is important is to get detailed information and to critically review any new offers. Anyone acting quickly now can change over sooner and will therefore be able to save more. The rules are complex, so educating mobile phone customers about the advantages and disadvantages of the new choices is vitally important," Kurth said today in Bonn.

The regulation provides a price cap for retail customers ("Eurotariff"). In addition there will be price limits at wholesale level, affecting the prices that operators charges one another. The successively decreasing price caps were set as follows:

Maximum limit of Eurotariff for calls made abroad:

• Summer 2007 = 49 Cents
• Summer 2008 = 46 Cents
• Summer 2009 = 43 Cents

Maximum limit of Eurotariff for calls received abroad:

• Summer 2007 = 24 Cents
• Summer 2008 = 22 Cents
• Summer 2009 = 19 Cents

Maximum limit at wholesale level:

• Summer 2007 = 30 Cents
• Summer 2008 = 28 Cents
• Summer 2009 = 26 Cents

Tariff per minute excluding VAT.

The regulation will be transposed in several steps. Initially each customer will be informed individually and transparently by his provider - network operator or service provider - about the new Eurotariff and will be offered a tariff within one month, i.e. by 30 July 2007. The customer then has two months to decide on the Eurotariff. Having received the order, the provider will switch the customer over to this new tariff within one month. This change-over should be smooth and trouble-free. Any customers who have not reacted will be changed over automatically at the end of the two-month decision period. From October 2007 all customers should then benefit from the Eurotariff, thus having to pay no more than 0.49 Euros (excluding VAT) for originating calls and 0.24 Euros (excluding VAT) for terminating calls.

Customers who had already made a deliberate choice of a specific roaming tariff by their provider before 30 June 2007 can also select the Eurotariff, but must expressly inform their provider of that wish, i.e. their tariff will not be changed over automatically. These customers should be informed by their provider that they have a specific tariff, allowing them to deliberately opt for the Eurotariff, should this be cheaper for them.

New customers should be informed about the Eurotariff when signing their contract. Where the Eurotariff is not available yet, new customers should be treated like old customers, being provided with information and having their tariff changed over later.

The providers are furthermore obliged to supply their customers with transparent information. From 30 September 2007 all customers crossing a border will receive a message about the maximum tariff for phone calls. Furthermore providers must set up a free hotline where customers can obtain additional information.

"We will monitor the providers' compliance with these information, changeover and transparency requirements vis-à-vis their customers and take action in case of any violations," said president Kurth in conclusion.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur, Germany

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ANRCTI has allotted new numbering resources to S.C. AIR BITES S.R.L., S.C. CARRIER 1 NETWORKS S.R.L., S.C. EUROWEB ROMANIA S.A., S.C. GBA NETWORK GROUP S.R.L., S.C. HES COMMUNICATIONS S.RL., S.C. NETPOINT S.R.L., S.C. ORION COMMUNICATION S.R.L. for the provision of telephony services and granted, as well, a new licence to S.C. VESSA TELECOM S.R.L., at the titular’s request, due to the change of its address.

Air Bites, Carrier 1 Networks and GBA Network Group, which requested numbering resources for the first time, were granted each the right to use 410,000 geographic national numbers within the 0Z=03 domain for the provision of fixed telephone services in 40 counties and in Bucharest. As regards the numbers within the 0Z=08 domain, GBA Network Group requested and was granted 1,000 numbers for prepaid cards, while Carrier 1 Networks was granted 3,000 numbers for tele-voting services, for services provided through Green Numbers, universal access service and prepaid cards. Moreover, Carrier 1 Networks was allotted 3,000 numbers within the 0Z=09 domain and received the individual indicatives 1662 and 1062 for carrier selection. The indicatives received by Air Bites for carrier selection are 1661 and 1061, while the indicative received by GBA Network Group is 1063.

According to the licence granted by ANRCTI, Euroweb Romania requested and was granted the right to use 90,000 national numbers within the 0Z=03 domain for the provision of telephony services in Bucharest.

HES Communications, a first time requester of numbering resources, was granted the right to use 70,000 numbers for the provision of fixed telephony services. Furthermore, the company was allotted 2,000 numbers within the 0Z=08 domain for the provision of services through Green Numbers and prepaid cards, as well as 3,000 national numbers within the 0Z=09 domain for Premium Rate services. The indicatives received by HES Communications for carrier selection are 1664 and 1064.

Netpoint was allotted 400,000 more national numbers within the 0Z=03 domain for the provision of telephony services in 40 counties of Romania. Orion Communication, a new entrant on the market, was granted the right to use 10,000 national numbers from the 0Z=03 domain, as well as 2,000 numbers for services provided through prepaid cards and Green Numbers; the company received the indicatives 1660 and 1060 for carrier selection.

Following the request of Vessa Telecom whereby it announced the company’s change of address, ANRCTI granted a new licence, without allotting additional numbering resources.

So far, ANRCTI has allotted more than 76.7 million numbers based on the procedure of granting licences for the use of numbering resources. 57.2% of these have been allotted for fixed telephone services, while 41.7% have been assigned for the provision of mobile telephone services.

Further details on the numbering resources allotted by ANRCTI are available here

Source: ANRC, Romania

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OTTAWA-GATINEAU —  The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that effective September 12, 2008, 10-digit local dialing will be required for all local calls in British Columbia.

To prevent the exhaustion of telephone numbers in the area code 250 region, 10-digit dialing will begin on June 23, 2008. The change to 10-digit dialing will be gradually introduced over the following weeks and become mandatory by September 12, 2008.

In addition, effective July 4, 2007, the use of area code 778 will be expanded to provide numbers in the region served by area code 250. This means that customers seeking new numbers in the current 250 area code regions could be given a number starting with area code 778.

These measures are being implemented in response to the Canadian Numbering Administrator’s forecast that the area code 250 region will run out of telephone numbers by January 2008.  

Source:CRTC, Canada

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has introduced a new, location-independent service type and number range to facilitate the introduction of innovative communications services while assisting consumers in making more informed choices.

ACMA has amended the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the Numbering Plan) to create the new service type and the 0550 number range.

‘The new service type and the 0550 number range provide greater flexibility for industry to innovate in the provision of telephone services but in a way that should also provide consumers with clearer signals about the extent to which their service will resemble a traditional telephone service. This is important because emerging voice services may function in different ways to traditional telephone services,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Current examples of innovative services include some kinds of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services. However, as next generation networks are built and software and devices continue to evolve, it can be expected that innovation will broaden further.

Under the new arrangements, service providers will have a choice of number ranges. If a provider wishes to offer a traditional fixed telephone service or a service that is a close substitute, it will continue to be able to access geographic numbers, or, if it chooses, it can diversify to the new 0550 number range.

If a service offers features that depart significantly from those traditionally expected of telephone services, then ACMA expects these will be offered only on the 0550 number range. In particular, 0550 will be suitable in cases where a telephone service is not fixed to a particular location. ACMA has included a set of guidelines in the Numbering Plan that are intended to assist carriage service providers in selecting the appropriate number range for the provision of IP-based services.

The authority’s decision is an important step in facilitating the evolution of voice telephony and also implements an important aspect of the government’s announced strategic framework for VoIP services.

As part of this new approach ACMA intends to more actively monitor compliance with regard to the use of geographic numbers for local services by carriage service providers. In the first instance, ACMA intends to provide information and advice to IP service providers to assist them in meeting their obligations as carriage service providers. In addition, ACMA will also make available information to consumers about the new number range.

‘As new services become available, ACMA expects to continue working with organisations such as the Communications Alliance to ensure that appropriate information is available,’ said Mr Chapman.

ACMA will also continue to work with the Department of Communications Information Technology and the Arts, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the industry on other matters related to the changing technological and commercial environment for voice services.

The changes will take effect from 31 May 2007. This provides industry with time to make the required networking and marketing preparations to support the number range.

Source: ACMA, Australia

The Federal Network Agency wishes to make known that, under a consultation procedure now opened, interested parties can submit proposals to the Commission on the reservation of numbers beginning with '116'. The consultation is looking to identify services of social value, accessed by freephone, that can benefit from a harmonised 6-digit number beginning with '116'. The Commission Decision has already reserved the number 116000 for hotlines for missing children. In the first phase all the proposals submitted by

the closing date of 20 May 2007 will be assessed as having been received at the same time.

The consultation was preceded by the "Commission Decision of 15 February 2007 on reserving the national numbering range beginning with '116' for harmonised numbers for harmonised services of social value". Thus numbers in the '116xyz' range may be assigned and used solely for this purpose.

In 2004 already, the Agency, as the first national regulatory authority, assigned the number 116116 to Sperr e.V. for the blocking of electronic authorisations, for instance EC cards and credit cards. Insights from this assignment procedure have flowed into the Commission Decision.

After 20 May 2007 the Commission will decide whether the services put forward in the first phase meet the criteria and which number will be reserved for which service.

The reservation of a number for a particular service does not constitute an assignment. Rather, it is intended that, when the Commission has decided on the numbers to be reserved, the national regulatory authorities will invite applications for the assignment of 116 numbers, these numbers to be assigned solely for the service defined by the Commission.

Detailed information on number reservation (in German only) can be found on the Agency's website at Nummernverwaltung – News. In due course the Agency will also post information on the reserved numbers and their associated services and on the application and assignment procedures.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur, Germany

 

The Federal Network Agency today decreased the price for the local loop (LL) to € 10.50. This means a lowering of the charge for the most important wholesale product in local network competition by 15 cents. Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) had applied for an increase to € 12.03.

"In the final outcome of the analysis, an increase as applied for by Deutsche Telekom AG was out of the question. The increase in the cost of certain important components such as the expected rate of return or of copper since our last decision two years ago, is more than offset by efficiencies achieved, for example, in common costs or by growing synergies in cable installation," said Matthias Kurth, President of the Federal Network Agency.  (…)

Source: Bundesnetzagentur.

The Federal Network Agency is currently drawing up a database solution for call number barring for collect calls. Details of the barring procedure have now been published. Collect calls are telephone calls in which the costs of the call are taken over by the called party pending his consent. An amendment of the Telecommunications Act now enables end customers to have their call numbers barred for collect calls. This can be quite useful in cases where the holder of the call number does not always have full control over the telephone line, e.g. in hotels, in office environments or in families with children. For barring collect calls, the holder of a telephone number merely needs to ask his telecommunications service provider to have his number placed on a special list. Inclusion in this list is free of charge. The list is maintained by the Federal Network Agency in form of a database.

Providers of access to the public telephone network notify the Federal Network Agency on a daily basis of all the applications received by them for call number barring or debarring. At the same time, the providers of collect calls are obliged to retrieve the list containing the barring data every day. The provider is entitled to levy a charge for deleting a call number from the list. All providers are obliged to partake in this procedure, starting 1 September 2007. Details of the procedure are published in BNetzA Official Gazette and on the Agency's web site www.bundesnetzagentur.de in the number management section. The data exchange between the Federal Network Agency and the telecommunicatioons enterprises are described in detail in an interface specification. This interface specification may be ordered from sperrliste@bnetza.de.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur, Germany

Berne, 22.03.2007 - Press release on the occasion of the ComCom press conference on 22 March 2007. In order to provide customers with better protection from an unwanted change of fixed-network provider, the Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) has amended the regulations for carrier preselection. The new arrangements enter into force on 1 April 2007. Providers have three months to implement the measures.

The Board of Directors of ICP-ANACOM has approved the 2007 version of the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP). The new plan, which is currently undergoing public consultation, makes a range of important changes to the previous version.
  
Within a framework of progressively adopting the principles of technological neutrality, the compulsory use of the 900 MHz band for GSM technology has been abolished, allowing the spectrum to be used more efficiently, especially with respect to UMTS technology. As well as efficiency gains, this change is also expected to lead to wider coverage and ultimately to benefits for final consumers.
  
NFAP 2007 includes a sounding out of the market as to possible expressions of interest in the use of the part of the spectrum with frequency bands reserved for use by terrestrial mobile services (450 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands), while maintaining a perspective of technological neutrality.
  
Additionally, the new version ends the provision which previously reserved the GSM spectrum in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands for current operators of terrestrial mobile services where such operators could demonstrate necessity. This part of the spectrum is now included for purposes of expression of interest. This approach allows an assessment of whether this part of the spectrum should remain reserved for allocation to current operators, or whether it should be made available to the market in accordance with the condition set out by the Electronic Communications Law.
  
The 2007 version of NFAP updates the information on the reserved frequency bands that are to be made available this year, most importantly for terrestrial television broadcasting (DVB-T). Is should be noted that the frequency bands (channels) reserved for this service have been indicated, although the allocation and usage model is still being defined.
  
The new version goes on to introduce revisions that update the information on usage with reference to 30 November 2006 (e.g. rectification of the number of FWA blocks in use and their respective use; revision of the number of channels in use by fixed point-to-point services, Sound Radio Broadcasting and use by fixed satellite service, GMPCS, AES and Amateur Service). It also updates the section on spectrum use that is exempt from radio licensing.
  
Finally, it can be seen in the section of the NFAP on the frequency band reservation for each year that, as a rule, the process of spectrum allocation is performed according to full access. This allows for more rapid access by spectrum users, maximising the benefit for consumers, promoting competition and making a contribution to the development of the market.
  
Due to the significant impact that this document will have on the market, it is subject to the general public consultation procedure. A period of 20 working days (ending on 10 April 2007) has been set aside for this process, during which all interested parties can comment. 
  
The adoption and annual publication of the NFAP is governed by the Electronic Communications Law. Under the terms of this law ANACOM is given the remit, within the general scope of spectrum management, to plan frequency use in line with the following criteria: a) availability of the radio spectrum; b) guarantee of conditions for effective competition in the relevant markets and c) effective and efficient use of frequencies.

Source: Anacom, Portugal

Ofcom today published details on how certain aspects of its plan for UK telephone numbering will be implemented, including the introduction of new UK-wide 03 numbers during 2007.

Under the Communications Act 2003 Ofcom is responsible for managing the UK National Telephone Numbering Plan. Telephone numbers are essential to UK households and businesses, and Ofcom must ensure the most effective use of this important national resource. In July 2006 Ofcom set out its general approach for the future in a statement which followed full public consultation.

Source: Ofcom, UK.

ANRCTI allotted new numbering resources to S.C. RCS & RDS S.A., S.C. Total Inter Media S.R.L. and S.C. Transilvania Digital Network S.A., for the provision of telephony services.

After being granted the license for 3G services, the RCS & RDS company requested from ANRCTI, during January 2006, to be allotted numbering resources within the 0Z=07 domain for the provision of mobile telephone services through the 3G technology. ANRCTI allotted RCS & RDS 1 million national non-geographic numbers, of the 0770 xxx xxx format.

In Romania, the winners of the 3G licenses were Vodafone Romania, Orange Romania, Telemobil and RCS& RDS, the latter two companies being granted licenses following a tender organised by the Inspectorate General for Communications and Information technology (IGCTI) in 2006. By the end of the year, Vodafone Romania estimated 250,000 customers on the 3G segment, while Orange Romania published a similar amount that includes the EDGE users (also known as 2.75G).

According to the license granted by ANRCTI, RCS & RDS also has the right to use 130,000 numbers for the provision of fixed telephone services in the Vaslui, Teleorman, Arges, Olt, Valcea, Mehedinti, Gorj, Hunedoara, Caras-Severin, Timis, Cluj, Covasna and Sibiu counties.

S.C. Total Inter Media S.R.L. company, a first time requester, has been granted the right to use 10,000 numbers for the provision of fixed telephone services in Tulcea county.

S.C. Transilvania Digital Network S.A., also a first time requester, has been granted the right to use 30,000 numbers within the 0Z=03 domain in Mures, Harghita and Sibiu counties, as well as the right to use 1,000 numbers within the 0Z=08 domain, for services provided through Green Numbers.

So far, ANRCTI allotted more than 68.45 million numbers based on the procedure of granting licences for the use of numbering resources. 56.4% of these have been allotted for fixed telephone services, whereas 42.4% of the allotted numbering resources were assigned for the provision of mobile telephone services.

Source: ANRCTI.

Today, February 2, 2007, ANRCTI submits to public consultation three draft decisions that are intended to modify the way the numbering resources are managed in Romania. The main amendments refer to the closing of the National Numbering Plan, to the procedure for issuing the licenses for the use of numbering resources as well as to imposing certain tariff for the use of such resources.

The Draft decision on the National Numbering Plan suggests that, starting as of February 2, 2008, calls to the subscribers of the fixed telephone services providers should be made by simply dialling the national number (comprising 10 digits = national prefix + geographical area code + local number), as regards all local and long-distance calls. (details…)

“Our objective is to level the manner the telephone numbers from the fixed telephony domain are dialled, thus ensuring the observance of the non-discrimination principle in the allotment of the numbering resources. The closing of the National Numbering Plan means an exclusive use of national numbers and the elimination of local numbers”, Dan Georgescu, President of ANRCTI, declared today.

Currently, the subscribers of the alternative providers may be called only by dialling the national 10 digits number, while in case of a local call, the subscribers of Romtelecom are called by dialling the local number of 6 digits - in the territory, and, respectively, 7 digits - for Bucharest, fact that could turn into a major factor when deciding upon the fixed telephone services provider.

The transition to the new manner of dialling telephone numbers shall comprise two stages. First, between February 2 – June 1, 2008 numbers may be called using both the current format and in the new format, and the subscribers will be informed as regards the change occurred in the manner of dialling. Second, between June 2 – September 1, 2008, upon each call made to a number using the local format, the subscribers will be informed – by means of a voice message – about the new number format, but the call will no longer be routed to their destination.

Source: ANRC, Romania

By determination of 11 January 2007, ANACOM approved the draft decision on the establishment of two new codes within the National Numbering Plan (NNP) “761” and “762”, their designation as flat-rate call services, the definition of their features, and the allocation criteria and conditions attached to the rights of use for numbers.
 
A flat-rate call service is a means to access goods, services or contents, the payment of which takes place by making a telephone call, with a tariff defined by the service access code. This service enables the access, always in the same way, to anywhere in the country, and to a specified number which corresponds to the service access codes.
 
The tariff ceilings apply regardless of how long the call may take and the hour the call is made, and vary according to the access code: 1€ and 2€ (no VAT included), at the most, per call, for the “761” and “762” codes, respectively.
 
The allocation of the rights of use for these numbers must be requested by a company providing electronic communications services to the public. Companies to which such rights are allocated are subject to several conditions, namely: compliance with the service designation and features, including tariff ceilings; ensuring that the number disclosure attaches at all times explicit information on the respective price and other conditions applicable to its use; pursuing portability of the number where the customer so requests, according to Regulation no. 58/2005 of 18 August. The interconnection conditions defined in the Electronic Communications Law also apply, especially rules laid down in the reference interconnection offer to non-geographic and customer charged services.
 
This determination was submitted to the prior hearing of interested parties, and to the general consultation procedure, a time limit of 20 working days having been set in both cases.

Source: ANACOM, Portugal

Japanese telecoms group Softbank yesterday heralded the start of a ‘price war’ in the domestic mobile market as Japanese operators braced themselves for the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP), designed to make it easier for users to switch their mobile phone provider, which becomes effective from today. Masayoshi Son, the president and CEO of Softbank is offering customers who switch to his network a range of incentives or discounted package plans in a bid to stir up the already competitive sector. Citing his mission to ‘make mobile prices [in Japan] the lowest in the world’, Son confirmed the industry’s worst fears by announcing his intention to cut profit margins in an already tight market. The Financial Times writes that Son, who previously slashed fees for internet access against NTT, could spark a price war which would wipe up to USD79 billion off the revenue sheets of the country’s cellcos.

Critics of Japan’s MNP plans are sceptical however, saying that it is arguable whether Softbank’s move will provoke mass switching. Japan traditionally has very low churn rates and high levels of customer loyalty. However the UK paper cites a recent survey published by Mitsubishi Research which found that about six in ten people surveyed saw the ability to switch to a cheaper service more easily as a ‘merit’ of number portability. In addition, a further 5% of mobile customers – or about 4.5 million people – are ‘eager’ to switch service provider when the new rules apply.

Source: Telegeography

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is confident that mobile number portability (MNP) will be introduced by December 2007, despite lengthy delays in legislating the service, writes The Star local daily. MNP was first proposed by the government in 2004 and initially scheduled to be implemented in 2005. However, it was decided that more research needed to be conducted and in September 2005 the MCMC published a public inquiry paper inviting submissions on the service. After a period of silence, the regulator has now announced that it is still looking at how to legislate and implement MNP.

Source: Teleeography

South Africa’s cellular operators are calling for yet another delay in the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP). Business Day reports that technical problems have caused the testing of the new MNP systems to run behind schedule. Cell C is suggesting that the date for the implementation of MNP be changed from 18 September to late October, while MTN and Vodacom want the deadline pushed back to the end of November, giving them more time to ensure that the system will work smoothly. There has been some criticism, however, from the likes of newly launched MVNO Virgin Mobile which says that market leaders MTN and Vodacom are purposefully trying to set back the introduction of MNP, as they fear they will lose market share as subscribers switch to alternative networks.

Source: Telegeography

Japan’s three mobile operators, NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and Vodafone KK, have begun wooing customers in earnest ahead of the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) on 24 October. DoCoMo, the market leader by subscribers, has issued brochures comparing the tariffs and rates of the three cellcos, while Vodafone – to be renamed Softbank Mobile on 1 October but to retain the Vodafone brand name – has offered a pay-by-installments option for the purchase of mobile handsets. Meanwhile, KDDI has announced twelve new handsets that will be launched before the end of the year, as well as planning to deploy 1xEV-DO Rev. A in December. The two smaller cellcos have already begun accepting reservations by users who wish to switch; DoCoMo will begin doing so soon.

According to Kyodo News International, a local news service, sources close to the market say that many of DoCoMo’s customers are business users and have refrained from moving to another operator due to the absence of MNP, and that the forthcoming introduction of MNP could see DoCoMo go on the defensive. Elsewhere, claims have been made suggesting that 25% of Vodafone’s subscriber base will seek to move. However, some analysts state that MNP will not have such a great effect due to the costs involved, chiefly a migration fee of approximately JPY5,000 (USD43) and the possibility that users will also need to buy new handsets should they elect to switch.

 

Source: Telegeography

Mexico's Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (Cofetel) has launched a consultation for feedback from the country's fixed line and mobile operators regarding its draft regulations for number portability, according to BNamericas quoting a statement from the regulator. Mexico’s telecoms law gives Cofetel power to order number portability, so long as it can prove that the system is technically and economically feasible. The watchdog plans to create a technical committee to discuss the issues raised by operators and says implementation of the service will be gradual, starting with portability between companies offering the same service in the same local service area.

Source: Telegeography

Vodafone KK has announced that it will charge its customers JPY2,100 (USD18) to cancel their contracts when transferring their phone number to a different cellco after mobile number portability begins on 24 October. The declaration comes after rival operators NTT DoCoMo and KDDI also set their cancellation fee at JPY2,100. Vodafone KK and KDDI have also revealed that a new contract fee of JPY2,835 will be applied to customers switching from other services, while NTT DoCoMo will charge JPY3,150. It has been rumoured that as many as 25% of Vodafone KK’s subscribers are looking to switch.

In separate but related news, Vodafone KK will legally change its name to Softbank Mobile Corp on 1 October, but will retain the Vodafone brand name.

According to local news service Teletime News, quoted by BNamericas, Anatel has approved a proposal to introduce fixed and mobile number portability in 2008. Pedro Jaime Ziller, an Anatel board member and leader of the regulatory body's research into number portability, said that a public consultation will run from 4 September until 9 October.

Source: Telegeography

With effect from 26 August, all operators in Oman must implement mobile number portability to conform with the Telecommunications Regulatory Act, the Telecoms Regulatory Authority has said.

Source: Telegeography

Israel’s Finance and Communications Ministries have confirmed that fixed and mobile number portability will be introduced on the original 1 September deadline, after they opted not to employ a three-month extension period provided for under the country’s telecoms law. A number of operators have said they will not be ready for portability until mid-2007 and many were hoping for the process to be delayed until December at least. It is widely expected there will be an appeal against the decision.

Source: Telegeography

Telefónica Móviles México has called for the country’s regulators to prioritise the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) and the expansion of the calling-party-pays (CPP) billing system nationwide, in a bid to make the Mexican mobile market more competitive. In November 2005 the Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) met with operators to discuss plans to introduce number portability, but has yet to release a timetable for the launch of the service. The cellco’s CEO Miguel Menchén told local daily Reforma that his company has been working on improving its service quality so that it might tempt users away from its larger rival Telecel when MNP is eventually introduced. ‘Since we cannot be the largest operator, we have to be the best in terms of service quality,’ he told the paper.

The introduction of CPP has been protracted. In April 2006 the regulator passed a resolution mandating that domestic long-distance (DLD) calls to mobile phones be subject to CPP rules, giving operators until October 2006 to implement DLD CPP; CPP already applies to local fixed-to-mobile calls. However, last month Mexican telcos Axtel, Avantel and Alestra teamed up to challenge the ruling, saying that the introduction of CPP for local fixed-to-mobile services has resulted in fixed line customers subsidising wireless operators to the tune of USD1 billion annually. They claim it is illegal that cellcos can charge wireline operators more for fixed-to-mobile interconnection than they pay for mobile-to-fixed or mobile-to-mobile calls.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued strong recommendations for introducing Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in the country. It is thought that the proposal could be implemented by April 2007.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Dominican Republic's telecoms regulator Indotel has launched a public consultation on its proposed regulations governing the introduction of number portability, with a deadline of 28 July for interested parties to submit feedback. Indotel expects the regulations to be formalised by the end of the year; mobile number portability (MNP) will be prioritised, whilst portability for fixed line numbers will first be introduced in specific areas, expanding to numbers between larger geographical areas and finally between services, such as the transfer of a mobile number to a fixed line. Last month, Indotel said it expected the implementation of portability to cost operators around USD25 million.

Source: TeleGeography.

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El organismo regulador ha comenzado una consulta pública sobre estas propuestas, según información de la prensa local que cita fuentes de Indotel.

La ley General de Telecomunicaciones establece que los usuarios tienen derecho a mantener su número telefónico al cambiar de operador. La consulta pública que ahora se inicia estará abierta hasta el 28 de julio y con posterioridad Indotel llevará a cabo una audiencia pública una vez que haya estudiado los comentarios recibidos.

El regulador espera que la regulación sobre portabilidad este preparada antes de fin de año, fecha en la que establecerá un plazo para que los operadores puedan adoptarla. En principio se aplicará a la telefonía móvil, más tarde a la fija y por último entre servicios, lo que requerirá al menos un periodo de dos años para su implantación completa y un esfuerzo inversor por parte de los operadores.

Fuente: Área de Comunicación y Servicios de Información, AHCIET.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has reported that unpaid spectrum user fees and supervisory regulatory fees are increasing, prompting commissioner Ronald O. Solis to brand the offending telcos as ‘delinquent’. The news comes days after the country’s Department of Finance proposed a crackdown on tax perks enjoyed by telcos. Unsurprisingly, the companies themselves have opposed the move, with Smart and Globe in particular warning that the tax breaks act as an incentive to encourage investment, and their removal may stall the rollout of 3G services. Source: TeleGeography.

The board of Thailand’s telecoms regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), has ordered its staff to finalise guidelines for implementing mobile and fixed number portability within three months as part of a plan to speed up the introduction of the system. NTC Secretary-General Suranan Wongvithayakamjorn said that the measure should be implemented by the end of 2006, adding that mobile number portability (MNP) would be introduced first, closely followed by fixed number porting. The NTC’s previous deadline for implementing the MNP system was the end of 2007. Source: TeleGeography.

The Italian regulator approves regulations for the provision of VoIP services and the integration into the National Numbering Plan (Delibera n. 11/06/CIR, L’Autorità per le garanzie nelle comunicazioni, Disposizioni regolamentari per la fornitura di servizi VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) e integrazione del piano nazionale di numerazione) Link to the regulations (in Italian).