Today, February 2, 2007, ANRCTI submits to public consultation three draft decisions that are intended to modify the way the numbering resources are managed in Romania. The main amendments refer to the closing of the National Numbering Plan, to the procedure for issuing the licenses for the use of numbering resources as well as to imposing certain tariff for the use of such resources.
The Draft decision on the National Numbering Plan suggests that, starting as of February 2, 2008, calls to the subscribers of the fixed telephone services providers should be made by simply dialling the national number (comprising 10 digits = national prefix + geographical area code + local number), as regards all local and long-distance calls. (details…)
“Our objective is to level the manner the telephone numbers from the fixed telephony domain are dialled, thus ensuring the observance of the non-discrimination principle in the allotment of the numbering resources. The closing of the National Numbering Plan means an exclusive use of national numbers and the elimination of local numbers”, Dan Georgescu, President of ANRCTI, declared today.
Currently, the subscribers of the alternative providers may be called only by dialling the national 10 digits number, while in case of a local call, the subscribers of Romtelecom are called by dialling the local number of 6 digits – in the territory, and, respectively, 7 digits – for Bucharest, fact that could turn into a major factor when deciding upon the fixed telephone services provider.
The transition to the new manner of dialling telephone numbers shall comprise two stages. First, between February 2 – June 1, 2008 numbers may be called using both the current format and in the new format, and the subscribers will be informed as regards the change occurred in the manner of dialling. Second, between June 2 – September 1, 2008, upon each call made to a number using the local format, the subscribers will be informed – by means of a voice message – about the new number format, but the call will no longer be routed to their destination.
The draft decision also suggests that the short numbers – comprising 3 or 4 digits, used for services of national interest (certain emergency services, consumer protection, citizen’s number, local time service etc.) and local interest services (taxi, direct mayoralty number etc.) – should be differentiated. According to the new format of these numbers, digit 1 should be added before the current number (for the first category of services mentioned) and the geographical area code should be added (for the second category of services mentioned). For example, in case of a call to the „local time” service, one should dial 1958 instead of the 958 number currently dialled in the Romtelecom network. In order to call the direct mayoralty number, a citizen of Brasov should dial 0268984. The unique emergency number – 112 – shall keep its format.
Within the revised National Numbering Plan, a new category of numbers in the 0Z=03 domain is suggested: location-independent numbers (in the 037, 038, and 039 sub-domains). These resources may be used for the provision of services at any location on the Romanian territory. Thus, ANRCTI intends to ensure resources that are adequate to the technological development of the networks used for the provision of electronic communications services (i.e. use of IP technology, fixed-mobile convergence etc.).
The numbers used by the providers of mobile telephone services (0Z=07) shall keep their format.
The other two draft decisions refer to the introduction of certain tariffs for the use of numbering resources and, respectively, the change of the procedure for requesting and granting licenses for the use of numbering resources (LURN). The tariff for the use of numbering resources shall ensure an increased efficiency of the use of numbering resources, which is a scarce resources, and shall convince the interested providers to require only the numbering resources that are strictly necessary for the provision of their own services. The new procedure for requesting and granting the LURN makes available to the providers a standard form to be used when requiring numbering resources and establishes the rights and obligations of the holders of these licenses.
The documents are available for consultation on the ANRCTI website. All interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions by March 8, 2007, by mail, to the ANRCTI headquarters (14 Libertatii Blvd., sector 5, Bucharest) or directly to the ANRCTI registration office or to the closest territorial office of ANRCTI. Comments may be sent also by fax to +40 21 307 54 02 or by e-mail to consultare@anrcti.ro.