Numbering, adding up the evidence for change - Suzanne Howard

NumberingAdding up the evidence for changeSuzanne Howard, Regulatory Frameworks Section

What is a telephone number?> Telephone numbers allow users to connect across networks> The Numbering Plan sets out a framework for the use of telephone numbers in Australia> Telephone numbers serve two main purposes in communication networks. They do this by identifying: > a point of termination in a communications network (the address) > an end user (the name).> Telephone numbers are one of the many types of identifiers (numbers, names and addresses in use)

Numbering is used to facilitate policy objectives through promotion of price via grouping of numbers corresponding to services incurring similar transparency call costs via associating geographic enable fulfillment of consumer through facilitating untimed local protection policy objectives calls numbers with geographic areas corresponding to local call areas through enabling telemarketers to via maintenance of do not call identify parties not to call in connection with marketing register records enable fulfillment of competition policy through reducing costs of via number portability objectives changing service provider through enabling emergency service organisations to obtain service address of customers in con- Numbers nection with calls to Triple Zero (000) through enabling enforcement agencies to enable fulfillment of security and via maintenance of integrated obtain details of customers in safety policy objectives connection with investigations public number database records through enabling emergency service organisations to obtain contact details of customers in emergency areas in connection with sending warnings to parties in emergency areas via annual numbering charges enable fulfillment of economic through placing price on return policy objectives numbers via smartnumbers® auctions

Pressures for change> Technical innovation at both the network (fixed and mobile) and device level> Service innovation, including the move away from fixed-voice- only services and the development of software based communications, which are, in some cases, independent of specific networks and devices> New business models, which are exploring alternative revenue streams> Changes in consumer behaviour which reflect and in some cases have driven changes in the technology and pricing.

The Numbering Work Programhttp://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_312339

The Research> forms of communication used> understanding of local call charges> awareness of call charges associated with different number types including 13/1300, 1800 and 1900 numbers> attitudes and behaviours in relation to the use and value of home and mobile phones, telephone numbers and call charges> use of directory assistance.

Case Study: Mobile calls to freephone & local rate numbers> Freephone numbers ‘180X’ – the charge for calls made to the number from a standard telephone service (other than a mobile service) is zero.> Local rate numbers ‘13/1300’ – charge for calls made using standard telephone services (other than a mobile service) is equal to or less than the call charge for a local call.> Calls from mobile phones to both local rate and freephone numbers are charged at a timed rate they are often not included in caps/plans.

Forms of communication used 9 77 13 % Home phone & no mobile phone Mobile phone & no home phone Home phone & mobile phoneQ6. Now thinking about the forms of communications that you have for your personal use and not just for work-related usage. Which of the following do you have in your household? Base: All respondents (N=1,500).

Charging Awareness Calls from landline Calls from mobile

Attitudes towards statements about use of home and mobile phones Respondents who have both a home and mobile phone (n=1,068) I pay attention to the cost of individual calls from landline 40 16 43 I pay attention to the cost of individual calls from mobile 52 15 32 I make local calls from landline as can talk for long time without 78 8 12 high cost Respondents who have a home phone but not a mobile (n=132) I dont care about number of calls from home phone because 52 9 36 theyre fairly cheap I try to avoid calling mobiles from home phone because it can be 68 10 17 expensive 0 20 40 60 80 100 % Agree Neither Agree Nor Disagree Disagree Cant Say/NA Q33 A to U; Q34 A to H: I’m going to read out some statements about how you might use your home phone or mobile phone. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means strongly agree and 5 means strongly disagree, how would you rate the following?

Is it a problem?> Understanding of most call costs is poor and often confused because of falling call costs, the shift from landlines to mobiles and the complexity of use of call charges and plans including the use of ‘caps’.> This is not a problem for most consumers – as the call costs are in plan or within the household budget and telephone numbers are no longer relevant as a price signal.> But it IS a problem for consumers who are on low incomes, on pre-paid plans or who make frequent or long calls to 13/1300/1800 numbers from mobile phones.

Numbering: Calls to freephone and local rate numbersThree drivers for change:> reflect changes in consumer usage of telecommunications services> reflect the intent of the legislative scheme, including the objects of the Numbering Plan> improve price transparency for consumers.

Numbering: Calls to freephone and local rate numbersThe proposals:> Calls from mobile phones to freephone numbers are free of charge to the calling party, so that ‘free’ means free> Calls from mobile phones to local rate numbers are limited to the amount that a consumer would expect to pay for a local call made from a fixed phone.

Numbering, adding up the evidence for change - Suzanne Howard

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Numbering, adding up the evidence for change - Suzanne Howard Presentation Transcript

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