Ofcom’s final proposal highlights the following changes to Non-Geographic Number services.
0870: End to revenue sharing
Call cost to be the same as calls to national-rate geographic numbers
An end to revenue share payments
Allows 0870 to be included in call packages
Cost to receive calls to your 0870 numbers after the changes
0871: Being re-classified
- Regulated by premium rate services regulator, Phonepay Plus
- No separate brand from other 09 and 070 premium rate number services
- Will be covered by Phonepay Plus code of practice - and a 'Statement of Application' on how this will apply to 0871 ranges
Phonepay Plus published its Statement of Application in November 2007, detailing how it intends to regulate the 0871 range. Ofcom are now in the process of ratifying these proposals.
- Clear communication of costs to the callers of 0871 services from the end of 2008. This could include pricing information in advertising and promotional materials (e.g. ens and non-letterhead material) or vehicles carrying the 0871 number
- In TV broadcast media the ppm rate may have to be spoken as well as visually displayed
- A transparent caller experience for any network based call queuing (using queue position, waiting times or call back functionality)
- Prior permission will need to be sought with Phonepay Plus for a minority service types (such as gambling lines or consumer credit services). most users of 0871 will be unaffected by this
We are expecting Phonepay Plus to take over control of the 0871 range by the end of 2008
0845: To be reviewed in Quarter 1, 2008 (now delayed until after 0870 is completed)
- Currently more cost effective for many dial-up pay-as-you-go internet users to dial an 0845 number than to make a national-rate call to a geographic number
- Review expected to change 0845 in line with the 0870 reforms
0844: Unaffected
0800 / 0808: Unaffected
03: New number range
- Call cost to be the same as calls to national-rate geographic numbers
- Predominantly for government and not-for-profit organisations
- Corresponding 0344/ 0345/ 0370/ 0371 numbers to be made available to the current users of the 08xx equivalent
Advertising and marketing
- Ofcom supporting Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) guidance to provide clear pricing information
- 087 or 084 should not be referred to as being charged at "national" or "local" rates
Adult services confined to 09 numbers
- To be provided on 0908 and 0909 ranges only where they will be PhonePay Plus regulated
Use of NTS numbers by public bodies
- Inappropriate for public bodies to use only NTS numbers (without geographic alternative)
Improved consumer information
- Consumers given better information on call costs. Separate consultation planned.