1 January 2022 will see 1850, 1890, and 076 telephone numbers withdrawn as the 2018 Non-Geographic Number (NGN) Decision and measures to simplify NGNs for organisations and consumers are implemented
- Organisations, including charities, in Ireland will make significant savings by switching to 1800 Freephone and 0818 Standard Rate numbers
- 1850, 1890, and 076 numbers are being withdrawn from service and will no longer operate from 1 January 2022
- ComReg urges organisations using 1850, 1890, or 076 numbers to contact their telecoms operator and switch number now to get their preferred new number and safeguard access to their service
- Measures are designed to simplify the NGN platform and reduce costs for organisations and callers
Currently, organisations and providers of important services in Ireland, use a range of NGNs for their callers to contact them.
ComReg, the statutory body responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector in Ireland, is reminding all organisations using 1850, 1890, or 076 numbers to contact their telecoms operator now and switch to new numbers well ahead of the withdrawal of these NGNs. This will ensure enough time to make the necessary arrangements and to secure a new preferred number. Over five thousand new NGN assignments (1800 and 0818) and counting have already been made as demand for new NGNs intensifies. Switching number will prevent loss of service and safeguard access to services by ensuring that customers can be made aware of the new number in good time.
The prompt comes as ComReg and telecoms operators join forces to support, manage and monitor switching from 1850, 1890, and 076 numbers by organisations in Ireland.
In 2018, and following extensive research and engagement, ComReg decided to introduce measures to advance the NGN platform. These measures were designed to address the prohibitive cost of calling NGNs, and to tackle confusion among callers on the differences between the various NGN ranges.
In 2019, ComReg took the first step, introducing new tariffs which reduced NGN calling costs for consumers.
The final step in simplifying the NGN platform is the reduction in the number of NGN ranges. In less than 11 months, the excessive five NGN ranges will reduce to just two. 1850, 1890 and 076 NGNs will be withdrawn and, from 1 January 2022, only the 1800 Freephone and 0818 Standard Rate NGN ranges will remain in operation.
These changes will simplify NGNs and provide clarity on the costs of calling the two remaining NGN ranges (1800 and 0818). For callers, 1800 calls are free. Calls to 0818 are included in customer call bundles that include calls to landlines or, out of bundle, charged at the Standard Rate, which is no more than the cost of calling a landline.
Notably for organisations, the cost of maintaining 1800 numbers has reduced significantly since the introduction of new wholesale charges in May 2020. In general, there is no per call cost to the organisation for receiving an 0818 call.
Organisations who currently use 1850, 1890, or 076 NGNs are urged to contact their telecoms operator now to find a new number to suit their needs. 1800 and 0818 numbers, as well as geographic (landline) numbers are available now.
Robert Mourik, Commissioner at ComReg said:
“ComReg and the telecoms operators have worked collaboratively and to great effect to improve the Irish Non-Geographic Number system. This will deliver real and tangible benefits to both consumers and organisations who rely on these numbers.
We urge organisations using 1850, 1890 or 076 numbers to contact their telecoms operator now and make the switch. There are a wide range of numbers available but there is no time like the present, as switching now will mean organisations can find their best number and unlock savings right away”.
Find further information here.
