Premium Rate Services (‘PRS’) are services commonly providing information or entertainment via the telephone or other equipment. They range from sports-related services and voting lines, to competition, chat and business information services.
In April 2004 Ofcom published a consultation document, ‘Premium Rate Services - a consultation document reviewing Numbering Arrangements’ (the ‘April consultation’). Ofcom has now analysed the eleven responses received as a result of the April consultation and has published a statement setting out its conclusions, along with some consequential proposed changes to the UK’s National Telephone Numbering Plan (‘the Plan’) and the Application Form for 09 numbering. There was overwhelming support from respondents for Ofcom’s proposals to simplify the designation of 09 telephone numbers and to remove the potential for confusion stemming from the different definitions of PRS in the Plan and the ICSTIS PRS Code of Practice (the definition in the ICSTIS Code of Practice comes directly from the Communications Act 2003 (the ‘Act’)). There was also a clear consensus that the current detail of the 090 sub range was useful and could form a basis for future regulation of 091 and any other 09 ranges made available for ‘Special Services at a premium rate’.
Ofcom is therefore now proposing to substantially adopt its proposals (with some changes made following the responses made to the April consultation).
