I'm ready to stand corrected, however in the main 0870 numbers are very much in decline.

There's still numerous stragglers, but less and less are in use. From experience, I suspect those left are just legacy, they live on, more that it's such a hassle migrating.

0870 numbers are inclusive to many call plans, and revenue-share was killed-off. The reasons 0870 came into being don't truly exist anymore. Many didn't get revenue, (we didn't). Today, there's alternatives. Back in the day, broadly an NGN business number with an IVR back-end, was 0800/ 0870 or you went without.

Businesses were granted 03XX to walk round the issue, what happens to the number group now? Ofcom seem to be pretty silent on this, like 070 personal numbers, will 0870 be left as an oddity to shrivel on the vine? The Telcos won't be seeing the revenue they once did, which means they'll be happier to see change.

Are there proposals to see a blanket 087 /084 etc tariff? Or will they simply cease to exist as Ofcom's move on 0500.

Best I can find is here:

·
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/217747/second-consultation-future-of-telephone-numbers.pdf

Seems I've answered my own Q. Ofcom appear to be looking at doing something soon...

----------------------------

From: Ofcom’s plan of work 2021/22
Future of numbering policy review. We will continue our strategic review of the telephone numbering plan to make sure it provides what people understand, want and need from numbers for the coming decade. In particular, we will be considering the future of area codes, 084/087 numbers and we will continue our programme to address anomalies in the use of and charges for calls to 07 numbers.
-----------------------

Well... I thought I'd answered my own question. It appears Ofcom have kicked this one into the long grass. Now listed in the plan of work for 2023/24.

I suspect, the way the telco industry is moving, if Ofcom leave things much longer, events will overtake the issue anyway. Unless I've missed something, they appear to have watered their words a tad, and no longer give a date for when this will be done:

==========
Future of numbering policy review.
We will continue our strategic review of the telephone numbering plan to make sure it provides what consumers understand, want and need from numbers for the coming decade.

==========

03700000000 wrote on May 26^th, 2022 at 1:40am:

I'm ready to stand corrected, however in the main 0870 numbers are very much in decline. There's still numerous stragglers, but less and less are in use. From experience, I suspect those left are just legacy, they live on, more that it's such a hassle migrating. 0870 numbers are inclusive to many call plans, and revenue-share was killed-off. The reasons 0870 came into being don't truly exist anymore. Many didn't get revenue, (we didn't). Today, there's alternatives. Back in the day, broadly an NGN business number with an IVR back-end, was 0800/ 0870 or you went without. Businesses were granted 03XX to walk round the issue, what happens to the number group now? Ofcom seem to be pretty silent on this, like 070 personal numbers, will 0870 be left as an oddity to shrivel on the vine? The Telcos won't be seeing the revenue they once did, which means they'll be happier to see change. Are there proposals to see a blanket 087 /084 etc tariff? Or will they simply cease to exist as Ofcom's move on 0500. Best I can find is here: · https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/217747/second-consultation-future-of-telephone-numbers.pdf

0870 numbers are included in landline call plans yes, but NOT mobile (or certainly none I can find).  Therefore as more and more of the population stop using landlines and move to solely using mobiles the need to have ALL inclusive calls remains.  084/087 numbers no longer have their place in our society.

Want a "Non Geographic Number"?  Use 080 or 034/037 job done!

Ofcom need to get moving with this, but they won't... why... because they appear to be "guided" by the telco's!

So that would mean that this site will start to see increase in popularity/usage?

Johnny Debt wrote on May 8^th, 2023 at 9:23am:

So that would mean that this site will start to see increase in popularity/usage?

Under what circumstances?

CJT-80 wrote on Apr 4^th, 2023 at 5:19pm:

Ofcom need to get moving with this, but they won't... why... because they appear to be "guided" by the telco's!

Yes the needs of Ofcom's revenue providing base the telcos always seems to have come first in almost all of their actions unfortunately eg they proposed getting rid of 070 personal numbers years and years ago but then caved in and ditched their plans due to threats from those running the numbers about potential revenue loss.........

Anyway just to prove that former active members do occasionally still visit this discussion forum but might have been a year since my last visit.