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Background - restoring confidence

Following OFCOMs investigation into the UK use of non geographic numbers such as 0845/ 0870 and 0871, several public concerns came to light:

• Revenue sharing or rebates are of concern to the public.
• The cost of calling 0845/0870 and 0871 is perceived as very high (inaccurately so in some cases)
• Calls to Non geographic numbers are not generally included in call inclusive packages for either landlines or mobile phones.
• 0800 'free' calls are not actually free when made from mobile phones -calls are charged at anything up to 35p per minute.
• Calls to 0845/ 0870 and 0871 can be very expensive from mobile phones, up to 40p per minute.

To help address these issues and to restore trust and confidence in UK telephone numbers, Ofcom has created the 03 UK Wide range. This non geographic range offers the features and functionality of other non geographic numbers, but calls are charged at the standard rate for UK landlines. Calls to 03 numbers are also included in call minute packages on landlines and mobile phones. In addition, to address other concerns, revenue sharing is not permitted on 03 numbers. To summarise, 03 UK Wide numbers offer:

• The same features and functionality as other NGN ranges
• A single number can be advertised across the UK.
• Calls are charged at the same rate as 01/02 numbers.
• Calls to 03 are included in all call inclusive packages. This applies equally to landlines and mobile phones.
• No revenue sharing is permitted on 03.

03 UK Wide numbers meet the strong and growing public demand to have a recognisable phone number, which both identifies the type of company they are calling and offers a clearly priced call. They have already been hailed as the phone numbers of the future

It is expected that 03 UK Wide numbers will be used widely across the UK. The range is split into 3 different groups aimed at specific types of organisations, businesses or individuals:

• 0300 and 0303 numbers are exclusively available to the public sector (including organisations with a .gov.uk or .nhs.uk website) and not-for profit organisations such as registered charities.
• 0330 and 0333 numbers are available for any organisation or individual that wishes to use them.
• Migration numbers 0344, 0345, 0370 and 0371 -this sub range of 03 numbers has been made available to those who wish to migrate their existing 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871 numbers to the new 03 UK-wide numbers range. For example, a company with 0845 500 5000 will be entitled to migrate to the equivalent 0345 500 5000.

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03 UK Wide numbers

• Introduction - the future is 03
• UK Wide numbers - The 03 range explained
• 03 -a non geographic number with a difference
• Future proofing
• No extra charge - even for mobile phone users
• 03 UK Wide -Pricing
• Early adopters of the new UK Wide Services
• Ofcom leads the way in adopting 03 phone numbers
• Raising confidence in telephone numbers - Ofcom

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If you would like one of our telecommunications consultants to contact you for further advice, please email contact@it-cts.com with your details.