A new nationwide phone number range starting with the digits 03 could be created to help meet demand for new numbers, the telecoms regulator said.

Callers would be charged at the same rate as existing area codes which start with 01, or 02 in London.

The 03 code could be used by organisations with branches across the UK instead of premium-rate numbers.

OFCOM is consulting until 4 May on several changes to the UK's telephone numbering plan to meet demand.

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4743876.stm

Not only are ofcom introducing 03 numbers but they want to replace 070 numbers is 06 numbers.

Its a good move and its sounds like my suggestion too.

I wonder if 0844 and 0845 numbers will charge?

sorry I meant change not charge!

Anyway, I think the 03 numbers will be a waste of time as nationwide organisations prefer the existing 0845 numbers since they help fund their telephone bill such as National Rail enquiries.

If it reduces the amount of 0845/0870 numbers I'm all for it, but somehow I just don't see that happening.

No, they are introducing 03 numbers for organisations and companies who want one national code such as 0345 for example who don't want to make a profit. These could be goverment agencies ect....

Other companies who do want collect revenue can still use 0845 numbers.

Interestly if you read the full proposals from Ofcom they state that the 034 code would be made available to those companies who wanted to move from 084 numbers.

This means that copies who had 0345 numbers until the big number change moved them to 08457 can now move back to 0345 (all be it with the addition of a 7) if they so wish!

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond...mberingreview/

So I am wondering where does this leave the proposal for 05 - as corporate numbering?

I know of at least one company, with a UK wide presence that has been allocated a sizeable block of 055- numbers.

Ofcom and Cable and Wireless are trying to get rid of 0500.

The statement says that Cable and Wireless stopped allocating 0500 numbers in 1999. They just want to wait for businesses to change their numbers themselves and then completely withdraw it. However, a few of these 0500 numbers now legally belong to NTL. So its up to NTL too.

When Cable and Wireless sold its cable franchises to NTL, some businesses using the cable franchises had 0500 numbers, these went over to NTL.

After 1999. Cable and Wireless focused on 0800-096 numbers ect....