Ofcom has recently launched a consultation in which it proposes that the 0500 number range should be withdrawn. There would be a two year implementation period.

It has been closed to new allocations since 2001 but numbers that were already allocated to customers can continue to be used.

The number of active 0500 numbers has been declining over several years. The volume of calls to 0500 numbers is only a small fraction of the number of call minutes to 080 numbers (and of volumes on some of the other non-geographic number ranges like 0845), and a very large proportion of 0500 calls are to a small group of numbers operated by fewer than 30 organisations. Consumer awareness and understanding of the 0500 range is very poor compared to other non-geographic number ranges.

There is one highly prominent user of 0500 909693.

This is used for general contact and all phone-ins.

Because the number is memorable, consisting of its 2 frequencies, it will naturally be very reluctant to give it up.

Perhaps the inconvenience to listeners caused by a change of number could be mitigated if this was combined with a general move away from 084 numbers, across BBC Radio in particular. The local radio stations which still use 0845 numbers do have the option of the 0345 equivalents, which is sadly not available to Five Live.

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For goodness sake Ofcom, a 64-page consultation! Look, just let 0500 continue and let 08050 (or whatever) run in parallel, ad infinitum. Companies can update their publicity gradually when they are able.