The ACMA manages the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 (the Numbering Plan), which sets out the framework for the numbering of carriage services in Australia and the use of numbers in connection with the supply of such services.
The ACMA is also responsible for managing the existing numbering resource and planning for new numbering developments in Australia.
Representatives from the telecommunications industry, telecommunication users, community groups and government work closely in the Numbering Advisory Committee to formulate and administer numbering policy. This committee primarily addresses issues relating to the development and management of the Numbering Plan, including the allocation and specification of numbers and the distribution and administration of annual numbering charges.
The ACMA is also involved in an Electronic Number Mapping (ENUM) trial, in consultation with the Australian ENUM Discussion Group.
On 28 November 2011 the ACMA announced its medium to long term vision for numbering in Australia. It will apply a managed evolutionary approach to increase the flexibility and efficiency of numbering arrangements, and make pricing clearer for consumers.
Variations to the Numbering Plan
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2011 (No. 1)
This instrument varies the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 1997 by recognising the realities of newer services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and accommodating the existing practices of VoIP.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2010 (No. 1)
This instrument removes the preferential allocation method for charities to obtain the rights of use to 13, 1300 and 1800 numbers sold by the smartnumbers® auction method.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2007 (No. 4)
This variation removes content provided on the prefixes 195 and 196, from the Telecommunications Service Provider (Mobile Premium Services) Determination 2005 (No. 1) (the MPS Determination), into the Numbering Plan. This was required because of the introduction of new regulatory measures provided by Schedule 7 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, that remove the need for the regulation of mobile premium content under the MPS Determination.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2007 (No. 3)
This variation creates a new special service type number range of 0550 for use by location independent communications services (LICS). The number range is for the allocation of numbers for services that are nomadic in nature and not fixed to a location.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2007 (No. 2)
This variation creates additional geographic numbers in:
- the Camperdown area which uses numbers commencing with (03) 55 by supplementing with the new prefix (03) 45;
- the West Sector of Melbourne, including Craigieburn, Point Cook and Sydenham, which use numbers commencing with (03) 83 and 93 by supplementing with the new prefix (03) 73;
- the Deloraine area which uses numbers commencing with (03) 63 by supplementing with the new prefix (03) 67;
- the Bundaberg area which uses numbers commencing with (07) 41 by supplementing with the new prefix (07 43; and
- the West Sector of Sydney and Liverpool area which use numbers commencing with (02) 87 and 97 by supplementing with the prefix (02) 81.
These new numbers supplemented existing number ranges which are approaching exhaustion. This variation also changes all references to the former ACA to the ACMA.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 2007 (No. 1)
This variation changes the specification of the directory assistance service number 1223, to allow, in certain circumstances, the supply of a national and international operator connected call service and an operator service in addition to the existing services available.
Telecommunications Numbering Plan Variation 1997 (No. 5)
This variation specifies new telephone number prefixes likely to be required within the next 10 years and also limit the allocation of numbers from the new prefixes until any numbers associated with an existing prefix are utilised.
Previous variations
The Numbering Plan was varied in 2005–06 to meet the changing needs of industry and the community. Variations included:
- specification of new geographic number ranges for 11 areas across regional Australia;
- re-specification of existing geographic numbers in Melbourne and Sydney; and
- correction of minor errors, clarification of ambiguities and removal of redundant components of the Numbering Plan.
Each variation to the Numbering Plan can be found on the Commonwealth of Australia law website managed by the Attorney-General’s Department.
