Numbering policy & management

Basic principles & policy objectives

Since the start of liberalization on the local and mobile telecommunications market, the policy for the issue of numbers has been in the hands of the minister of Traffic, Transportation and Environmental Planning and it no longer pertains to the concession holders themselves as was the case before. The basic principle of this policy is that the market, as a result of liberalization, consists of multiple players and it is a government task to make numbers available based on efficiency, transparency and non-discrimination. The key here is to warrant an orderly and economical allocation of numbers in the telecommunications market.

This government task is based on policy objectives, which find their core in a National Numbering Plan drawn up by the minister. These policy objectives are:

• Promoting the efficient use of the available number capacity by concession holders. New subscriber number blocks may be issued, for example when 80% of the numbers is in use and the Minister may withdraw number blocks when only 10% is in use.
• Putting the method of allocation and the use of numbers in order, keeping into account the current and future number applications.
• Enabling telephone services to be recognized by the issue of numbers to concession holders.
• Facilitating sufficient ranges of numbers to concession holders within clear frameworks, so that the liberalized telecommunications market may be served with the available numbers.

Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post, on behalf of the minister of Traffic, Transportation and Environmental Planning, is charged with the formulation and execution of the numbering policy and control as laid down in the numbering plan

Basic principles numbering policy and management

For the realization of these policy objectives a number of basic principles are applied, all of which are aimed at using the available number ranges sparingly, in order to prevent a scarcity of numbers:

• There are user categories for numbers
• The minister will assess the business plan of the applicant regarding an application for subscriber numbers
• 080X and 090X numbers may be reserved for a period of six months
• Allocated 080X and 090X numbers must be put in use within a term of six months
• A maximum of two four-digit carrier select codes is allowed per concession holder