Number portability and interconnect

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of the introduction of local number portability on the UK PSTN. It describes what number portability is, how it works and its impact on route capacities. It concludes by examining a possible future implementation of local number portability and its further impact on route capacities. There are other aspects of interconnect affected by number portability, such as service establishment, service maintenance and numbering management, but these are not covered in this paper. Within this paper various examples are given, and figures determined. These are simplified considerations and the figures are chosen for ease of explanation. For any individual case, the actual figures for that carrier need to be inserted in order that the true impact may be determined. The paper also attempts to be generic in nature, using such terms of 'donor' and 'recipient' and service provider (SP). In reality, given the deployment of number portability in the UK today, BT are generally considered to be the donor and a cable or other licensed operator the recipient.