Review of the new set proposals

Discussions about the main proposals to simplify the non-geographic number ranges and protect the consumers are detailed in this section. Under the new proposals customers should be offered with clear information about the price structure and tariffs, by removing misleading and confusing inconsistencies. The important proposals suggest that the maximum retail price for Free phone of 080 and 116 numbers should be made free from mobile phones and fixed lines. It also required to03 to become the non-geographic number range alone to be linked to the price of a call to a geographic number. Under the new proposals, a new tariff plans for non-geographic calls are required. It requires splitting of the money paid to the Phone Company, costs for routing and managing non-geographic numbers, costs of receiving the call service and costs of the service the consumer is receiving. This should be applicable to a wide-range of non-geographic number ranges that will provide better transparency for consumers and results in improved competition.

By offering 080 numbers free to call from all telephones, customers are given clear information about the price rates by the service providers. Not only does it improve the demand for services, but will also provide customers with better understanding of the range. Although, providing these services will not come free of costs to the providers, the benefits will be greater for consumers as well as service providers. The logical option for a non-geographic number range to be connected to the price of a normal landline call is 03 range. This is setup already for this purpose and it does not have any regulatory change. However, the usage of this number and consumer awareness regarding this is relatively low. The current proposals hope to introduce steps that will encourage the usage.
The confusion regarding the non-geographic number ranges linked to geographic call prices of the 0845 and 0870 ranges and the other 084 and 087 numbers needs to be removed. Consistent treatment of the 084 and 087 number ranges would result in intuitive number plan for long term. Besides, there should be a consistent pricing treatment of revenue sharing ranges 084, 087, 09, and 118. All these changes would offer a non-geographic structure that will enable customers to trust the system once again.
Proposed approach will be applied in all 08 ranges, all 09 premium rate numbers and 118 directory enquiry numbers. Access Charge and Service Charge will be the two separate charges paid by the consumers. This will enable them to understand the costs paid to the phone company and the costs passed on to others. No change will be made to the standard structure of payments.
Proposals are made to signify rules that simplify the charges like one Access Charge per tariff package for every unbundled non-geographic number ranges, the Access Charge as ‘pence per minute’ rate, each service for fixed and mobile phones with a single Service Charge and less choices in setting the Service Charge. A rule that requires organisation and service operators to inform customers about their service charge in advertising and marketing is also implemented.
With these new proposals, the cost of a call to a non-geographic number will be the total of the Access Charge, in pence per minute and the Service Charge. Unbundled tariff hopes to offer special advantages to the customers including clear price rates and improved competition between the phone companies and service providers. Customers could access the service without any worries or confusion.
Apart from the individuals, businesses will also benefit from this new tariff. Those who get paid for the calls would receive better control over the prices and those who are not paid will have access to the number ranges where that is clear to the customers. Mobile-only household in the UK can make calls to numbers of social importance effectively. Prices for every call will be made clear and calls to 080 will be made free.