The regulator looks at issues of competition, trust, and consumer protection.
Background: In February 2019, Ofcom published its statement on the future of landline services. This set out the potential benefits to consumers as providers move their landline services to IP technology. Ofcom aims to regulate to ensure phone users are protected equally, regardless of how their landline phone service is delivered. The statement also set out expectations and responsibilities of telecoms providers as they make these changes.
What’s new? This week, Ofcom followed up on that statement with three new consultations. One looks into ways to tackle nuisance and scam calls, proposing a common database of phone numbers so that phone companies can verify that Caller ID numbers are genuine. The second is a call for input on how landline numbers should evolve to keep up with changes in how they are used, including whether area codes and associated location information should be retained. The third seeks views on what the move to IP-based telephony might mean for the regulation of interconnection; here, Ofcom’s preliminary view considers three possible options: continuing with LRIC-based price caps; moving to a LRIC+ cost standard; or imposing ‘reciprocal rates’, either with or without a set benchmark.
Next steps: The first and third consultation are open until 6 June 2019. The second one on the future of telephone numbers is open until 20 June 2019, after which Ofcom will set out further policy proposal later this year.
