International Telecommunication Union West African Common Market Project: Harmonization of Policies Governing the ICT Market in the UEMOA-ECOWAS Space Number Management International Telecommunication European Union Union International Telecommunication Union West African Common Market Project: Harmonization of Policies Governing the ICT Market in the UEMOA-ECOWAS Space Number Management European Union TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 A numbering primer ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Why number management is important........................................................................ 2 1.4 Some uses of this guide ................................................................................................ 3 1.5 Requirements and Challenges in Numbering ............................................................... 3 2.1 A short history of numbers - 0 to 1 and 2 to 9.............................................................. 4 2.2 Current constraints and pressures on numbers and Numbering Plans.......................... 5 3.1 Scheme Assessment - What makes a good scheme?.................................................... 8 3.2 Key Principles for Numbering Schemes....................................................................... 9 3.2.1 Any Numbering Scheme should be long-term and balanced ......................... 9 3.2.2 Any Numbering Scheme should have support from the industry (operators, users and the regulator) ............................................ 9 3.2.3 Any Numbering Scheme should have a coherent, clear and published strategy .................................................................................... 10 3.2.4 Any Numbering Scheme should be capable of adequate management.......... 11 3.2.5 Any Numbering Scheme should enable future development......................... 11 3.2.6 Any Numbering Scheme should remember and consider neighbours (continental and world neighbours)................................................................ 14 3.2.7 Any Numbering Scheme should not be anti-competitive to Telecoms Operators........................................................................................ 15 3.2.8 Any Numbering Scheme should not be anti-competitive to users ................. 15 3.3 Additional Principles for Numbering Schemes ............................................................ 16 4.1 Assignment of numbers ................................................................................................ 16 4.1.1 Who assigns numbers? ................................................................................... 16 4.1.2 Traditional Assignment Mechanisms............................................................. 17 4.1.3 Innovative Assignment Mechanisms.............................................................. 18 4.1.4 Balancing Efficient Number Management and Consumer Needs.................. 19 4.1.5 Assignment Duration...................................................................................... 19 4.1.6 National Numbering Capacity........................................................................ 20 5.1 Economic Aspects of Numbering................................................................................. 21 5.1.1 Number fees.................................................................................................... 21 5.1.2 Golden Numbers............................................................................................. 22 5.1.3 Impact of Numbering Scheme on Tariffs and Tariffing................................. 23 5.1.4 Number Portability ......................................................................................... 23 6.1 Special Concerns .......................................................................................................... 25 6.1.1 Directory Publication and Directory Enquiries .............................................. 25 6.1.2 Emergency Services ....................................................................................... 25 6.1.3 Roaming ......................................................................................................... 25 6.1.4 Alternative Routing of calls and Carrier Pre-selection................................... 26 7.1 Numbering plan management....................................................................................... 26 7.1.1 Request for reservation and assignment......................................................... 27 7.1.2 Confirmation, Cancellation and Withdrawal.................................................. 28 7.1.3 Assignment and Release................................................................................. 28 7.1.4 Activation and Extension ............................................................................... 28 7.1.5 Publication...................................................................................................... 28 8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix 1 Guidelines for Numbering................................................................................... 31 Appendix 2 Glossary of useful terms...................................................................................... 33 Appendix 3 Country plans and announcements – Numbering ............................................... 35 Benin (country code +229) ........................................................................................... 35 Burkina Faso (country code +226) ............................................................................... 38 Cape Verde (country code +238).................................................................................. 41 Côte d’Ivoire................................................................................................................. 44 Gambia (country code +220)........................................................................................ 46 Ghana (country code +233) .......................................................................................... 48 Guinea (country code +224) ......................................................................................... 53 Guinea-Bissau (country code +245) ............................................................................. 54 Liberia (country code +231) ......................................................................................... 56 Mali (country code +223)............................................................................................. 58 Niger (country code +227) ........................................................................................... 62 National numbering plan of Nigeria............................................................................. 64 Senegal (country code +221)........................................................................................ 70 Sierra Leone (country code +232)................................................................................ 71 Togo (country code +228) ............................................................................................ 72 Appendix 4 CEPT ECC Recommendation (05)03 Numbering for nomadic “Voice over IP” services................................................................................ 75 Appendix 5 Useful websites ................................................................................................... 77 Appendix 6 ITU Presentation, Networks in Action, Overview of ENUM............................. 79 - 1 - 1.1 Introduction The purpose of the ITU/EC project, to support the establishment of the integrated ICT market in West Africa (ECOWAS-UEMOA), is to create a uniform market framework within the community. The objective is to create a legal framework for the harmonious development of the sector and attract potential investors to ECOWAS/UEMOA countries. The project has five components, namely: interconnection, licensing, management of scarce resources (numbering plan and frequency spectrum management), universal access and model policy and legislation. The project is financed by the European Union. Within the framework of the ITU/EC project to support the establishment of the integrated ICT market in West Africa (ECOWAS-UEMOA), best practices and guidelines on various regulatory aspects of ICTs were identified and developed. In the first phase, validation workshops were organized in 2004 on the following regulatory aspects: interconnection, licensing, numbering, spectrum management and universal access/service. Following these workshops, the comments of the participants were incorporated and the documents were revised in order for ECOWAS-UEMOA to have at their disposal a regulatory framework best tailored to their member countries in the era of the Information Society. The first version of the report on numbering plan management was developed by Mr. Adama Nantoumé and presented at the Validation Workshop on numbering management in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 14-16 December 2004. The report was revised and updated by Mr. Michael Dixon. The present document will be presented to ECOWAS/UEMOA member countries for final approval. 1.2 A numbering primer National numbering plans (also known as numbering schemes) manage the National Significant Number