Review of General Condition 18 – Number portability | Ofcom

Review of General Condition 18 – Number portability | Ofcom

Ofcom is holding a consultation to allow rapid porting of numbers across networks, both in the fixed and mobile arenas. Fixed networks will be expected to port numbers within 1 working day and mobile networks within 3.

There will be an all-call query of a common database of numbers (“ACQ/CDB”) solution both for fixed and mobile networks (mobile networks already utilise something similar) which will aid in routing calls.

Currently fixed networks use completely static routes that are preprogrammed into each telephone exchange which makes tasks like porting extremely complex and time consuming.

As fixed networks move to Next Generation Networks, this will also fit in well with NGN topologies.

Unfortunately it's a slow process and will not be implemented until 2009.