DSIT publishes Telecare Action Plan
14th February 2025
Earlier this week, DSIT published aTelecare Action Plan, setting out the actions stakeholders are expected to take to protect telecare users during the digital…
The principle aim of the code is to establish a non-binding framework of mutual co-operation in regard to the building of information into Communication Providers (CPs) networks to allow their customers to access new ranges allocated by Ofcom within a reasonable time frame and to provide certainty of the timing of the same, with neither penalty nor prejudice for failing to do so.
At present many CPs have experienced difficulty in getting the customers of other Originating Communication Providers (“OCPs”) the ability to call numbers within newly issued ranges. The scope of this work applies equally to Geographic as well as Non-Geographic Ranges. Currently, a CP receives notification via a Yahoo! Email group from another CP that a range is available to be built.
There is no set industry process; it is then down to the individual CP to build the range. It is in the OCPs interest to build the range expediently to maximise the margin on originating as many successful calls as possible and it is in the Terminating Communication Provider’s (“TCP”) interest to maximise call termination revenues and to maintain their levels of customer service.
Certain CPs are renowned for taking far longer than others to build the range; those with modern Next Generation Core Networks can and do build them within 24 hours. The aim is that this code smoothens out this process and it has been endorsed by CPs including the following so far:
BT
Resilient Networks plc
Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited
Nexbridge Communications Limited
Flextel Limited
Virgin Media Limited
Level 3 Communications Limited
Oxygen 8 Limited
Magrathea Telecommunications Limited
Simwood eSMS Limited
Voxbone
Members & non-members who manage their own number ranges on their own networks.
Please find a link to the code here as well as a copy of the escalation contacts here.
Please sign and return to Lee Turner in PDF format; nominate whether or not you want you want to use the contact details on the Ofcom website per the appropriate code or supply different escalation information as required in the covering e-mail.
Alternatively, you can send a hard copy by post at;
Lee Turner
Gamma
Kings House
Kings Road West
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 5BY
Comms Council UK are sponsored by Magrathea
The awards entries open in January and winners will be announced at the ceremony on 25th September at 116 Pall Mall.
Comms Council UK are a UK, membership-led organisation that represents companies who provide or resell business and residential customers voice services over data networks (VoIP) as well as other “over the top” applications including instant messaging and video.