The first consultation was published in December 2010 Consultation and it aimed at improving the consumer awareness about non-geographic numbers and 03, 08, 09, 118 numbers.
Titled as ‘Simplifying Non-Geographic Numbers improving consumer confidence in 03, 08, 09, 118 and other non-geographic number’, the first consultation was published in December 2010 Consultation. Use and regulation of non-geographic call services were reviewed in this publication. Reasons why the market was not functioning well for consumers were explained in detail. Options for various changes to the regulation of non-geographic numbers to solve the consumer issues were discussed. Since the proposals included the anticipation of changes to the Communications Act connected to the revised EU Framework Directives that offered new powers to introduce maximum prices and tariff principles for certain number ranges for protecting consumers, the December 2010 Consultation was very strategic.
Rationalizing the non-geographic number ranges by offering clear information on price structures and removing confusion were the reform introduced in that consultation. The two main proposals regarding this included general tariff structure for non-geographic calls and Maximum retail prices.
New general tariff structure for non-geographic calls and Maximum retail prices
By introducing new general tariff structure for non-geographic calls costs for calls made to the majority non-geographic ranges excluding 080, 0500, 116 and 03 will be divided into the service charge paid to the TCP and the access charge paid to the OCP. This would trigger competition among communication and service providers and offer improved transparency for the consumers. Setting Maximum retail prices would be valuable for certain set of numbers, especially Freephone (080) and non-geographic ranges that costs the same rate as geographic calls (03). This approach is considered as highly dominant.
Over 110 Reponses were received from consumer groups, individuals, NGCS providers as well as from fixed and mobile communications providers. Comments and responses of the stakeholders are considered. The non-confidential responses were also published in their website. The consultation closed in March 2011. In addition to the responses, extra evidence was collected by working closely with NGCS industry. The comments received by them will help them refine the proposals.
