Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2005 (No. 4)

Administered by Department of Communications and the Arts

Legislation au F2005L03651 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Issued by the authority of the Australian Communications and Media Authority

 

Telecommunications Act 1997

 

Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2005 (No.4)

 

 

Statutory basis

 

Subsection 455(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (the Act) provides that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) must, by written instrument, make a plan for the numbering of carriage services in Australia and the use of numbers in connection with the supply of such services. This is the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the Numbering Plan).

 

Purpose of variation

 

The purpose of this variation is to specify new number ranges for use in eleven areas across Australia approaching number exhaustion.

 

Background

 

Access to numbers is a prerequisite for access to telecommunications networks and services.  There must therefore be an adequate supply of numbers available for allocation in a way that enables telecommunications companies to compete on equal terms and to ensure telephone users have access to the services they require.

 

Local services are an area in which competition and provision of new service types has generated substantial demand for numbers.  Local services are delivered on geographic numbers, identified by a two-digit area code followed by an eight-digit telephone number (for example, (03) 9963 6800).  These numbers are used to provide telephone users with an individually identifiable local telephone service.  Geographic numbers are the most commonly allocated numbers, with examples of services provided on these numbers including fixed-line telecommunications, access to the Internet and voicemail.

 

One of the most important features of a geographic number is the relationship between the number and the area in which it can be used.  This information has been a feature of geographic numbers since around 1960, and is understood and used by telephone users to infer the general location of the called party and information about the charges associated with the call.

 

ACMA has identified a series of areas across Australia where the available supply of numbers is forecast to run out within 12-18 months and/or where ACMA has limited capacity to meet any application(s) for numbers in every standard zone unit (SZU).

 

In determining which number ranges to specify to supplement the prefixes approaching exhaustion, ACMA considered the most efficient numbering arrangement that maintains the numbering patterns currently in use in each of the identified areas.  As a result, this variation is to amend the Numbering Plan to specify new numbers commencing with:

 

  • (02) 55 (except (02) 5550 which are used as fictitious numbers) and (02) 56 for use in regional New South Wales;
  • (03) 40, (03) 41, (03) 43 and (03) 47 for use in regional Victoria;
  • (03) 61 for use in the Hobart area;
  • (07) 42 and (07) 44 for use in regional Queensland; and
  • (08) 60 and (08) 66 for use in regional Western Australia.

 

Specification of these new numbers will provide sufficient additional numbers to meet forecast demand in the identified areas for the medium- to longer-term.

 

Public consultation

 

In July 2005 when the proposed variation was considered, section 460 of the Act specified public consultation where a variation to the Plan would affect a number issued to a customer or if it were otherwise considered in the public interest to consult. Under section 17 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, a rule-maker must ensure that any person likely to be affected by the variation–where that variation is likely to have a direct, or substantially indirect, effect on business, or restrict competition–must be provided with adequate opportunity to comment.

 

Consequently, ACMA sought the views of the Numbering Advisory Committee (NAC)[1] and also released a draft amendment for public comment. Comment received from Optus indicated full support for the proposed amendment. No other member of NAC commented. No comment on the draft variation was received from the public.

 

Section 461 of the Act separately requires ACMA to formally consult the ACCC before varying the Plan.  The ACCC indicated that it has no comments on the proposed variation.

 

The Office of Regulation Review (ORR) has endorsed a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) concerning this variation (ORR Reference: 7686).

 

Details of Amendment

 

Section 1 provides that the amendment may be cited as the Telecommunications Numbering Plan Amendment 2005 (No. 4).

 

Section 2 provides that the Variation takes effect  on the date after it is registered.

 

Section 3 specifies that the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 is amended as set out in the first schedule.

 

Schedule 1 Amendments

 

Item 1 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan.  The change inserts the two new prefixes (02) 55 and (02) 56 after the prefix (02) 53. Blocks of numbers in these ranges will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (02) 65 and (02) 66 respectively. The prefix (02) 5550 is expressly excluded because it is specified for use as fictitious numbers.

 

Item 2 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan. The change inserts the three new prefixes (03) 40, (03) 41 and (03) 43 before the prefix (03) 44. Blocks of numbers in these ranges will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (03) 50, (03) 51 and (03) 53 respectively.

 

Item 3 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan.  The change inserts the new prefix (03) 47 after the prefix (03) 44.  Blocks of numbers commencing with (03) 47 will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the (03) 57 prefix.

 

Item 4 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan.  The change inserts the new prefix (03) 61 after the prefix (03) 59.  Blocks of numbers commencing with (03) 61 will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the (03) 62 prefix.

 

Item 5 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan.  The change inserts the new prefixes (07) 42 and (07) 44 after the prefix (07) 41. Blocks of numbers in these ranges will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (07) 40 and (07) 47 respectively.

 

Item 6 sets out a change to Schedule 2 of the Plan.  The change inserts the new prefix (08) 60 before the prefix (08) 61.  Blocks of numbers commencing with (08) 60 will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the (08) 90 prefix.

 

Item 7 sets out a change to Part 1 of Schedule 3 of the Plan.  The change inserts the new prefix (08) 66 after the prefix (08) 65.  Blocks of numbers commencing with (08) 66 will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the (08) 96 prefix.

 

[1] NAC membership is drawn from the telecommunications industry, business and consumer groups, customer equipment suppliers and government agencies.

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