Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1)

Administered by Department of Communications and the Arts

Legislation au F2006L01628 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by the authority of the Australian Communications and Media Authority

Telecommunications Act 1997

Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1)

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 Plan).

Purpose of variation

The purpose of this variation is to change the specification of number ranges of broad geographic significance[1] (BGS) for use as numbers of local geographic significance[2] (LGS) in two areas of Sydney and Melbourne approaching number exhaustion.

Background

Access to numbers is a prerequisite for access to telecommunications networks and services. There must 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.

ACMA has identified two areas in Melbourne and Sydney 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[3] (SZU).

In determining how to supplement the prefixes approaching exhaustion, ACMA identified three ways in which numbers might be supplemented:

Option 1: specifying a new B-digit[4];
Option 2: specifying a new C-digit; and
Option 3: changing the specification of existing numbers.

Option 1 enables the existing patterns of geographic numbers to be maintained in areas running short of numbers. For example, existing Sydney numbers commencing with (02) 8 and 9 could be supplemented with new numbers commencing with (02) 7. However, this option is generally used only where no other options are available. This is because a comprehensive public education campaign is required to alert telephone users to the new numbers and all customer equipment such as PABXs must be programmed to dial the new numbers. B-digits are available for specification in both Sydney and Melbourne, for example (02) 7 and (03) 7.

Option 2 involves the specification of a new C-digit. For example, existing Newcastle (02) 49 numbers were supplemented with additional numbers commencing with

(02) 40. This option requires a public education campaign targeted to people most likely to be impacted by the new numbers. Customer equipment must also be reprogrammed to dial the new numbers. This option is only possible where C-digits are available for specification. There are no unused C-digits in Sydney and Melbourne.

Option 3 is only available in the five major capital cities of Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. This option involves changing the specification of existing numbers for use in an area running short. This commonly occurs when the specification of BGS numbers is changed to LGS. No public education is required as end-users are already familiar with the numbers. Further, customer equipment does not need to be reprogrammed as the numbers are already in use. Sydney and Melbourne have available BGS numbers that can be changed to LGS.

Option 3 is the preferred option and has been adopted to supplement prefixes in areas of Sydney and Melbourne running short of numbers. BGS numbers commencing with (02) 86 will be changed to LGS numbers for use in the North West sector of Sydney and the Blacktown SZU. BGS numbers commencing with (02) 86 will be changed to LGS numbers for use in the City Centre sector of Melbourne. Changing the specification of these numbers will provide sufficient additional numbers to meet forecast demand for the medium to long term.

Public consultation

Section 460 of the Act requires public consultation where a variation to the Plan will affect a number issued to a customer or if it is otherwise considered in the public interest to consult. Public consultation under section 460 of the Act was not required. This is because a change to the specification of BGS numbers does not affect numbers already allocated to carriage service providers (CSPs) and in use by end-users.

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. While consultation under section 17 was not necessary for this variation, as a matter of normal procedure ACMA sought the views of members of the Numbering Advisory Committee (NAC).[5] No comment was received from NAC members.

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

The Office of Regulation Review (ORR) granted an exemption on the requirement to provide a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). This is because the matter is machinery in nature (ORR Reference: 8180).

Details of Variation

Section 1 provides that the variation may be cited as the Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1).

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

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

Schedule 1 Variations

Item 1 sets out a change to Schedule 3, Part 1 of the Plan. The change adds the prefix (02) 86 to the numbers in the North West sector of Sydney. Blocks of numbers in this range will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (02) 98 and (02) 88.

Item 2 sets out a change to Schedule 3, Part 1 of the Plan. The change adds the prefix (02) 86 to the numbers in the Blacktown charging zone of Sydney. Blocks of numbers in this range will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (02) 98 and (02) 88.

Item 3 sets out a change to Schedule 3, Part 1 of the Plan. The change adds the prefix (03) 91 to the numbers in the City Centre sector of Melbourne. Blocks of numbers in this range will be available for allocation to carriage service providers for the continued growth of telephone services in areas currently using the prefixes (03) 96 and (03) 86.

Item 4 sets out a change to Schedule 3, Part 2 of the Plan. The change removes the prefix (02) 86 from the numbers that can be allocated in Sydney. Blocks of numbers commencing with (02) 86 will no longer be available for allocation as numbers of broad geographic significance.

Item 5 sets out a change to Schedule 3, Part 2 of the Plan. The change removes the prefix (03) 91 from the numbers to be allocated in Melbourne. Blocks of numbers commencing with (03) 91 will no longer be available for allocation as numbers of broad geographic significance.

[1] BGS numbers can be allocated to any SZU associated with a major capital city. However, BGS numbers can only be allocated where an applicant can show a limited requirement for numbers, or the numbers are required for a customer with internal dialling arrangements across geographically dispersed sites. BGS numbers are least likely to be allocated.

[2] LGS numbers can only be allocated to a portion of the areas associated with the five major capital cities. The area may be a SZU, or a part of a SZU known as a sector. Some SZUs are divided into a maximum of seven sectors. LGS numbers are the most commonly allocated numbers.

[3] A SZU is the unit to which numbers are allocated. A SZU is a charging precinct, or a charging zone less the area of any charging precincts contained within it.

[4] Using the number (0x) 1234 5678, x can be referred to as the A-digit, 1 as the B- digit, 2 as the C-digit, etc.

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

Overview

The Telecommunications Act 1997, enacted by the Australian Parliament, established a framework for the regulation of telecommunications services in Australia. The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1) was introduced by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to address the imminent exhaustion of telephone numbers in certain areas of Sydney and Melbourne. This legislative measure aimed to ensure an adequate supply of telephone numbers, facilitating competition among telecommunications companies and guaranteeing access for users. The variation, which was implemented without the need for public consultation as it did not affect existing numbers, involved re-specifying certain broad geographic significance (BGS) numbers as local geographic significance (LGS) numbers in Sydney and Melbourne to meet the anticipated demand. The policy objective of this variation was to maintain the integrity of the telecommunications numbering system by reallocating existing BGS numbers to LGS in areas experiencing number shortages. Specifically, the variation altered the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 to change the specification of numbers in the North West sector of Sydney, the Blacktown charging zone of Sydney, and the City Centre sector of Melbourne, ensuring a continued supply of numbers for telecommunications services in these regions.

Scope and Application

The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1) applies to the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997, which governs the allocation and use of telecommunications numbers across Australia. This variation, made under subsection 455(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997, primarily affects telecommunications companies and end-users within the specified areas of Sydney and Melbourne where number exhaustion is anticipated. The variation aims to address the impending shortage of telephone numbers by adjusting the specification of number ranges of broad geographic significance (BGS) to local geographic significance (LGS), ensuring continued availability and allocation of numbers for telecommunications services. The changes outlined in this variation apply nationally within the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically targeting the telecommunications industry to maintain equitable competition and accessibility for end-users. The variation does not require public consultation as it does not affect numbers already allocated and in use, nor does it restrict competition or directly impact businesses, as per sections 460 and 17 of the Act respectively. Furthermore, the Office of Regulation Review has exempted the variation from the requirement to provide a Regulation Impact Statement due to its machinery nature.

Key Provisions

The Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2006 (No. 1) introduces changes to the existing Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 to address the imminent exhaustion of telephone numbers in certain areas of Sydney and Melbourne. This variation is made under subsection 455(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 and serves to alter the allocation of number ranges to ensure continued access to telecommunications services. Specifically, section 3 of the variation modifies Schedule 3, Part 1 and Part 2 of the Plan by adding new prefixes to be used in specific areas and removing certain prefixes from the pool of numbers available for broad geographic significance. The primary changes include adding the prefix (02) 86 for the North West sector and the Blacktown charging zone in Sydney, and the prefix (03) 91 for the City Centre sector in Melbourne. These additions allow for the continued growth of telephone services in these areas, while removing the prefixes (02) 86 and (03) 91 from the pool of numbers available for broad geographic significance, thus reallocating them for local use. The variation imposes specific obligations on the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and other relevant parties to ensure that the changes are implemented effectively. ACMA must ensure that the new number allocations are communicated clearly and that the necessary infrastructure adjustments are made to accommodate these changes. Furthermore, the variation requires that any potential impacts on existing number holders and users are minimised, ensuring a smooth transition. The variation does not require public consultation as it does not affect numbers already allocated to carriage service providers or in use by end-users. However, as a matter of procedure, ACMA consulted with the Numbering Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), both of whom indicated no objections to the proposed changes. Breaching the provisions of this variation could result in legal consequences, although the specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the explanatory statement. Generally, under the Telecommunications Act 1997, unauthorised use of telecommunications numbers or failure to comply with the Act's provisions can lead to criminal charges and fines. The maximum penalties for such offences can vary significantly depending on the severity of the breach, but they may include substantial fines and potential imprisonment. Ensuring compliance with the numbering plan variations is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the telecommunications network and ensuring fair access to telecommunications services.

Area of Law: Telecommunications Law
Instrument: Statutory Instrument
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Commencement Provisions; Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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