2006/02/28

Ofcom Website | Ofcom sets out approach on VoIP services

Ofcom Website | Ofcom sets out approach on VoIP services

Ofcom have announced a consultation on regulation of VoIP services. So far it looks promising, supporting new entrants rather than the traditional telcos with hints that it will allow easier porting of numbers to VoIP players.

VoIP providers are encouraged to support 999 services (known as E911 in the US), and there are seperate initiatives to allow for the look-up of IP addresses and convert these to locations (relatively easy for DSL and fixed lines, but much harder when it comes to people using WiFi nodes etc).

In a seperate announcement Ofcom have also released details of the new UK numbering plan which calls for a non-geographic 03 range which will allow businesses to offer a UK number (not tied to a location), but it will be charged locally. 07 personal numbers are to be moved into a premium rate range and 07 will become mobile only.