This statement summarises the responses Ofcom received to last year’s consultation entitled “An assessment of alternative solutions for UK number portability” and sets out Ofcom’s conclusions. These responses have been taken into account by Ofcom in relation to the matters subject to consultation.
With regard to the assessment of an Intelligent Network (IN) central database solution (“CDB”) for number portability, Ofcom concludes that mandating such a solution is not cost justified. However Ofcom would seek to remove any regulatory obstacles should Industry choose to implement a CDB approach.
Ofcom concludes that the Number Portability Commercial Group should continue to investigate potential contingency measures to address number portability continuity where business failure leads to the loss of service and inability to use telephone numbers as a result of the implemented number portability solution. Ofcom will work with Industry and other stakeholders towards the realisation of viable and effective contingency measures to protect consumers.
The move to Next Generation Networks (NGNs) is a timely opportunity to revisit the implementation of number portability and the options for next generation number portability should be considered now, whilst NGNs are being planned. Ofcom will send a clear signal, through its NGN work programme, of its expectation that a more robust solution for number portability should be adopted in a future NGN environment.