Ofcom today confirmed its approach to introducing 03 numbers this year and increasing consumer protection in relation to calls to 070 “personal” numbers.

03 numbers are being introduced as an alternative to chargeable 08 numbers like 0870.

*     Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calls to geographic numbers (starting with 01 or 02)

*     03 calls will be included as part of any inclusive minutes or discount schemes in the same way as geographic calls. *   Revenue-sharing – where the dialled party can receive a share of what the consumer pays to make a call – will not be permitted on calls to 03 numbers.  

Following public consultation earlier this year, Ofcom today confirmed changes to General Condition 17 which ensure that these requirements apply to 03 calls from all types of line - including mobiles and payphones.

Separately Ofcom is also taking action to prevent scams on 070 “personal numbers” which are often confused with mobile numbers.

Telephone providers will be required to include free pre-call announcements about call costs for any 070 calls costing more than 20 pence (per minute or per call). This change will take effect later this year and the changes to General Condition 17 announced today ensure that the requirement applies to calls to 070 from all providers, on all types of lines.  

Statement

Raising Confidence in Telephone Numbers: Amending General Condition 17 for 03 & 070 numbers.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/numbering03/statement/

I found the below particularly interesting in view of the (underlying) use of 'national calling' numbers on some university 0870 systems.

Quote:

1.20 OCPs should note that Ofcom has stated that it will consider using its powers to place an obligation on all public electronic communications networks (‘PECNs’) if end-to-end-connectivity is not provided to customers (thereby enabling customers to call all number ranges).