The announcement
from Ofcom today added that, if providers wish to charge more for
0870 calls, they will have to make a free price pre-announcement at
the start of the call. Currently, organisations that use 0870
numbers currently have the opportunity to share the revenue
generated by per minute call charges. But this revenue stream will
dry up.
Ofcom also announced today that the remit of ICSTIS, the
premium-rate regulator, will be extended to all adult services
regardless of price. ICSTIS will also regulate all calls made to
0871 numbers and any adult services currently provided on 08
numbers will have to move to the designated 09 adult number
ranges.
The proposals follow a public consultation in September 2005.
Many of the 1,300 responses highlighted the need for changes to
0870 and increased consumer protection.
Ofcom is also proposing a new 03 number range as an alternative
for country-wide, non-geographic numbers, charged at the same rate
as calling a geographic number.
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