ACMA proposes VoIP number management changes

The Australian Communications and Media Authority could amend rules around the use of geographic numbers and numbering support for ‘VoIP Out’ services.

It has issued a discussion paper today and is seeking comment from the industry on its proposal. The closing date for comment is 28th February next year.

ACMA maintains a telephone numbering plan under Part 22 of the Telecommunications Act 1997. It provides the framework and policies for telephone number allocation, issue and use and is designed to ensure that phone companies adopt a standard approach to using telephone numbers.

The Authority is now testing amendments to the plan as it relates to VoIP (as well as traditional PSTN) carriage.

The proposed amendments could include allowing geographic numbers to be used by VoIP-Out (i.e outbound VoIP) services.

ACMA is seeking comment on whether outbound services should be required to use a unique number in the same way as phone numbers are permanently associated with other services.

Other proposed changes could tighten the rules for using geographic numbers so they can only be used in the standard zone unit (SZU) or area of allocation and introduce a new process that would enable a carriage service provider inappropriately using geographic numbers to be more readily identified, ACMA said.