We see more and more new applications emerging where phonenumbers are decoupled from SIM cards and/or fixed lines. They are dynamicallyassigned for short periods of time and or used for applications where there isno longer a strict relationship with a fixed/mobile phone line. Differentterminologies such as virtual numbers or cloud numbers, are used to describethis phenomenon.

These innovations have been made possible by using the cloudto provide electronic communications services.

There are many regulatory requirements in place in relationto the use of different types of number resources, in particular those designedto protect the interests of end-users, to facilitate competition and to ensurethe effective and efficient use of numbering resources. Are all of theseregulatory requirements reasonable and proportionate for those newapplications? In some circumstances they can even be contra-productive andhamper innovation.

The report will first of all describe these evolutions ofthe network and the new services based on those networks, will bring forward adefinition, make an assessment of the different regulatory requirements (e.g.number portability, CLI issues, emergency calls, relation of the identificationof calls with misuse or fraud) and other aspects (e.g. sub- assignment,security of communication) and their relevance to this new numbering usage andfinally make recommendations for the CEPT countries on numbering policy.

Special attention will be given to the question of whoexactly are the end-user and provider of the telephone numbers and theirtypical extraterritorial use.

The ECC Report will make a pro contra analyses of the direct allocation of telephone numbers by the Administrations to end-users.

This has given rise to abuses and gradually the administration responsible for numbering are losing control over the assigned numbers, making the enforceability of the regulations (e.g. lawful intercept, identification end-users) more difficult. It is also not optimal as it creates fragmentation and low efficiency of the usage of a scarce resource.

Citizens are increasingly using online tools for their interactions with the Government. This offers the possibility - unlike in the past - for Administrations to do the assignment of a phone number directly, via a standard process which is the same for every telephone number, independently of the by the citizen chosen operator to the end-user of the phone number at a low cost. As operators are not any longer involved in the assignment of the telephone number this will increase the KYC reliability.

This workitem will study the pro’s and contra’s of the direct allocation of telephone numbers from the administrations to the end-users of telecommunication services (so without involvement of the operator). It will also study the feasibility from a operational and technical point of view, including the impact on the operators (e.g. impact on NP, databases for emergency and directory services) with special attention to the transition of the existing to the “direct distribution” model of telephone numbers.

The direct allocation of telephone numbers on mass scale has become possible thanks to the introduction of eID services in the different countries. The eID is an electronic proof of identity (with chip) with which you can carry out electronic transactions. In the EU a system of mutual recognition of national electronic identification schemes (eID) across borders is being rolled out. It allows European citizens to use their national eIDs when accessing online services from other European countries.

A special point of attention is the allocation of telephone numbers to legal persons via direct allocation. It seems that a similar system as eID doesn’t already exist for legal persons, but is under development in the EU.