lucaltmann wrote on Jan 29
th, 2007 at 3:57pm:
I am trying to get a handle on the difference between the 0870 and 0871 markets. It seems that 0870 is a bigger market but the potential revenues from 0871 are greater, is there any reason for this.
The prefixes 0844 and 0871 were introduced in 1999. 0870 existed before this time, and was originally 0990 when all these numbers were provided by BT. 0990 numbers were migrated to 08705. That may help explain why businesses consider 0870 "fashionable".
Ofcom consultations and associated discussion threads on this forum can be found
here. The provide an invaluable background to the internal framework of these numbers. They are, however, extremely long.
From Ofcom consultation
NTS: Options for the future:
Quote:Transit charges
3.53 As noted above, the practice of who pays for transit charges varies according to the number range being called. For 0844 and 0871 calls, the OCP will pay the transit charges; for all other NTS calls, the TCP will pay. Some in the Industry regard this inconsistency as an undesirable anomaly.
3.54 The explanation for the anomaly lies in the fact that, when the 0844 and 0871 number ranges were introduced in 1999, the intention was to solve the problem of revenue uncertainty for TCPs by allowing them to set their termination payments. OCPs were considered responsible for paying the transit payment to avoid the TCP being left with a remaining source of revenue uncertainty in relation to transit payments.
3.55 Some OCPs have refused to carry some 0844/0871 calls (callers get a ‘number unobtainable’ tone or message) because, amongst other reasons, they are reluctant to pay the transit charge. This is one of the factors which has reduced the viability of the 0844/0871 number ranges in the eyes of some CPs and NTS SPs.