Free ‘freephone’ from mobiles proposed
A Government amendment has been proposed that would permit toll free calls from mobile telephones to ‘freephone’ 18/1800 numbers, which are currently chargeable at providers’ rates.
Chris Chapman of the ACMA
The draft variation to the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s Numbering Plan was released on Thursday. The reform has been introduced as a response to the excessive length of time mobile phone callers are often left holding on ‘freephone’ numbers.
“The ACMA welcomes the unanimous and unambiguous support shown by all stakeholders for the introduction, by no later than 1 January 2015, of free calls from mobile phones to freephone numbers,’ said ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman.
‘The release of this draft variation is a step towards another important outcome from the ACMA’s Numbering Work Program. It reflects changing consumer use of telecommunications services and improving price transparency, with benefits for industry, consumers and government agencies.
“While there is still significant work ahead to realise these benefits, including the renegotiation by industry of interconnect agreements for calls to freephone numbers, I would very much welcome efforts by service providers to enable these benefits to be realised earlier than 1 January 2015,’ he said.
The consultation is open for submissions to be received by 23 June.