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The number of available dedicated mobile-phone codes keeps falling

Pressure on 06-numbers in the Netherlands will continue to be considerable over the next few years (in the Netherlands, mobile phones are assigned 06-numbers). The number of 06-numbers that have been assigned keeps on rising, and is currently at over 54.5 million. That corresponds to 90.8 percent of all available 06-numbers. This has been revealed by the Scarcity Report (in Dutch: Schaarsterapportage), which is an annual publication of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

Telecom providers are allowed to use 06-numbers for mobile phones only. For devices such as tablets or payment terminals, they are required to use 097-numbers instead. In that way, we may be able to prevent a shortage of 06-numbers, and thus also prevent thereto-related investments by businesses and other organizations, as well as other social costs.

097-numbers for mobile-data communication applications

Telecom providers are still lagging behind, offering 097-nummers only sparingly. That is why ACM in 2015 stepped up its oversight of the use of such numbers by telecom providers. In 2016, ACM will continue to see to it that telecom providers use 097-numbers for applications that are not related to mobile telephony. Devices such as tablets, GPS navigation devices, security systems, underground waste containers, and vending machines require an internet connection. These devices are perfectly able to function using a 12-digit 097-number. However, in any case, telecom providers are no longer allowed to assign 06-numbers to such devices.

Modest growth of geographic phone numbers

The share of fixed phone numbers that have been assigned slightly increased in 2015: from 23.9 percent to 24.4 percent. According to ACM, this increase is caused by businesses requesting numbers for business phone services ‘from the cloud.’

Mobile-network codes are scarce

The Netherlands has relatively many providers, who all wish to have their own mobile-network codes. In the Scarcity Report, ACM has found that the pressure on mobile-network codes also continues to be considerable. Providers need such mobile-network codes in order to be able to offer mobile-phone services. They can request access to the code of another provider or they can submit a request with ACM for a mobile-network code of their own. ACM expects it will be able to manage with these codes for now.

However, once the Netherlands is out of codes, a request for a new country code needs to be submitted with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). As a result thereof, a large number of new codes will become available.

About the Scarcity Report

In the annual Scarcity Report, ACM reports on the numbers it has issued, and gives an overview of the availability of numbers. ACM manages the supply of phone numbers in the Netherlands. The number plans of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs specify which number can be used for what purpose. Based on these number plans, ACM assigns numbers, and oversees the use thereof.

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