'When worlds collide' – Impact of convergence on Numbering, Naming and Addressing

The concept of ‘convergence’ in information and communications technologies has been discussed and debated for many years but has only really gathered momentum in recent times with the wide availability of broadband over a variety of access networks (including fixed, mobile and wireless), the proliferation of smartphone use in society and an increasing choice of compelling ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) services (such as video, television and other services which run over the internet rather than via a service provider’s own dedicated network).

Numbering is a key enabler of communications services. Efficient management of National Telephone Numbering Plans has fostered competition, encouraged innovation and enhanced consumer protection in communications markets across Europe following market liberalisation. As convergence gathers momentum, the way we consume communications services is being transformed. What does this transformation of the communications landscape mean for numbering, naming and addressing policy in the future and what are the important issues that policy makers need to address after considering these technological and market developments?

The Green Paper

In order to address the policy challenges, the CEPT/ECC Working Group on Numbering and Networks (WG NaN) took the initiative to prepare a strategic plan in the form of a Green Paper for numbering, naming and addressing that sets out a vision for the next 10 years. The Green Paper is designed to be thought-provoking by making predictions on how the market could look in Europe in 2022 and by encouraging discussion and debate on the policy challenges. Special attention is given to the measures proposed by the European Commission’s Digital Agenda (2020) in the context of better harmonisation of numbering resources. It is expected that the Green Paper will provide a set of reference assumptions for WG NaN to use in the future.

So, what’s in it?

The Green Paper analyses consumer, operator and technology trends and puts forward a view on the potential impact of those trends for numbering policy.

Consumers on the move

From a consumer perspective, the value of mobility will continue to rise and, accordingly, the preference for mobile services. Correspondingly, the number of traditional fixed line telephone subscriptions will continue to decline.

The impact of OTT on consumer behaviour and operator business models

Some consumers will opt to retain their fixed access path for broadband only. With this approach, consumers will be able to choose different OTT services that can be delivered on underlying physical access paths. Operator business models will evolve to adapt to this decoupling of physical access from content provision. The physical access will be provided with different levels of quality of service offered based on consumers’ needs and their willingness to pay. Policy makers will need to review national numbering plans so that conditions of use can accommodate nomadic, mobile and OTT voice services.

The rise and rise of social media – and machines also talk to each other!

The popularity of social media is expected to continue to grow and much of the communications between users across all ages will be through these kinds of applications, thereby reducing the use of telephone numbers for traditional person-to-person communications. On the other hand, other types of addressing resources will be needed for mobile terminals (e.g. IP addresses) in order to ensure seamless communications between different network technologies. E.164 telephone numbering will therefore remain an integral feature of communications addressing and routing in the future. The Green Paper envisages two consolidated number ranges within national numbering plans – one for person-to-person communications (P2P) and one for machine-to-machine communications (M2M).

Disruptive technologies

On the technology side, M2M, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and Smart Grids will require core and access networks capable of providing bandwidth and scalability. The move towards all IP based networks will continue and circuit switched networks will be phased out. VoIP services will continue to replace traditional voice services and national numbering plans will need to be flexible in order to provide numbering resources for the next generation of voice services.

So what does all this mean for telephone numbering?

These trends suggest that telephone numbers will become less and less visible and it will be rare for individuals to dial numbers manually. Moreover, numbers will no longer be used to identify physical access paths and will be used predominantly as 'names' rather than 'numbers' with the traditional telephone number being translated into an underlying IP address.

The Green Paper goes on to explore specific policy challenges that could arise and identifies areas for further work by WG NaN on issues such as:

Developing the Green Paper

As part of a multi-stakeholder approach to developing the Green Paper, a workshop was organised and hosted by the European Communications Office (ECO) in Copenhagen, Denmark on 7 June 2012. The workshop brought together interest groups, operators, users, ministries and national regulatory authorities involved in numbering, naming and addressing. The WG NaN Strategy Task Force then met in Athens on 4-5 September 2012 to assess the outcome of the Green Paper workshop and prepare the first draft. The draft Green Paper was then circulated to the June workshop participants and WG NaN members for comments by 31 October 2012. Comments received were then deliberated upon at the WG NaN Stockholm meeting on 21-22 November 2012 and the Green Paper was then published. As the Green Paper is not a formal ECC deliverable, a public consultation is not planned. The WG NaN Strategy Task Force plans to review the Green Paper on an annual basis with the first review planned for September 2013.

A call for continued collaboration

As convergence gains momentum and the communications landscape continues to be transformed, policy makers will need to understand the technological and market developments so that they can adequately inform their views on how to safeguard policy objectives, such as competition, innovation, consumer protection and respect for privacy in the converging communications marketplace of the future. It will therefore be increasingly important to maintain dialogue on new developments in numbering resources. The WG NaN will take steps to introduce the Green Paper in the global arena and we would encourage all stakeholders to continue to collaborate on the development of common numbering policies and to exchange views on best practice approaches.

The Green Paper is available here.

Freddie McBride
ECO Numbering and Networks Expert