Major errors in GB number plan 1.1.18, 2.1.18 and 3.1.18.

[g1smdvoip]

Originally posted:  2012-Sep-18.

About a year ago, I informed Cisco that various pieces of  documentation detailing the GB number plan were inaccurate, incomplete,  and out of date.

The majority of the published data seemed to be from some time  back between 2003 and 2006, but with a substantial number of additional errors and inaccuracies and certainly not up to date.

It has taken many months to get the documentation amended with the correct information, but  those changes do not appear to have made it back into the software.

I have recently seen a copy of the cisco GB number plan version 18 'dp-ffr.1-1-18.GB.exe', 'dp-ffr.1-1-18.GB.cop.sgn', 'dp-ffr.2-1-18.GB.cop.sgn' and 'dp-ffr.3-1-18.GB.cop.sgn', released only a few weeks ago, and that still has the same and many other errors included.

The faulty GB number plan file is as detailed at:

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/release.html?mdfid=278719042&softwareid=282074292&release=1.1.18-GB-NZ&os=Windows

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/release.html?mdfid=278719042&softwareid=282074292&release=1.1.18-GB-NZ-&os=Linux

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/release.html?mdfid=278719042&softwareid=282074292&release=2.1.18-GB-NZ&os=Linux

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software/release.html?mdfid=278719042&softwareid=282074292&release=3.1.18-GB-NZ&os=Linux

Visit the above pages, mouseover the details there, then look for the 'flat pattern file' link in the popup box, specifically:

http://www.cisco.com/web/software/282074292/51298/GBNP.txt

This file contains a large number of errors.

I enclose the original and a corrected version of the 'flat pattern file'. The corrected version has dozens of fixes detailed within.

This file contains a large number of errors.

[g1smdvoip · Accepted solution]

Item 1

The local four digit numbers as used in the 016977 area code are missing from the file:

# [23]XXX
P: [23]XXX                       LOCAL-4-DIGIT

[g1smdvoip · Accepted solution]

Item 2

# 0+2[03489]+[2-9]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 2[03489]                      AREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXXXXX                  SUBSCRIBER

Although the 020, 023, 024, 028 and 029 area codes are valid, none of them use subscriber numbers in the whole of the [2-9]XXXXXXX range. Each area code uses only a very small part of the available range.

Each 02X area code has one hundred million possible numbers.

Allocations for London are announced in blocks of 10 million numbers e.g. (020) 3, released in blocks of one millon numbers e.g. (020) 33, and allocated 10 000 at a time to individual operators e.g. (020) 3344.

Elsewhere, numbers in other 02X area codes are anounced and released in blocks of one million e.g. (023) 82, (024) 75, (029) 22 etc and allocated in blocks of 10 000 at a time, e.g. (023) 8255, (024) 7588, (029) 2244.

In the various area codes, only (020) 3, (020) 7, (020) 8, (023) 8, (023) 9, (024) 7 and (029) 2 are designated, along with most of the range available in (028) area code (except for (028) 5 it seems).

This suggests that 0+2[03489]+[2-9]XXXXXXX is far too wide a pattern to use.

# 0+20+[378]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 20                            AREA-CODE
P: [378]XXXXXXX                  SUBSCRIBER
# 0+23+[89]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 23                            AREA-CODE
P: [89]XXXXXXX                   SUBSCRIBER
# 0+24+7XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 24                            AREA-CODE
P: 7XXXXXXX                      SUBSCRIBER
# 0+28+[2-46-9]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 28                            AREA-CODE
P: [2-46-9]XXXXXXX               SUBSCRIBER
# 0+29+2XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 29                            AREA-CODE
P: 2XXXXXXX                      SUBSCRIBER

[g1smdvoip · Accepted solution]

Item 3

# 0+1768[347]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1768[347]                     5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N

The 017683, 017684 and 017687 area codes have been identified as "special" in the above rule. These are five digit area codes with five digit local numbers, i.e. 5+5 format. These area codes share their first four digits of the area code with the separate 01768 area code which uses both 4+6 and 4+5 numbering. These are "mixed" areas.

There's another nine area codes like this:

# 0+13873+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 13873                         5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+15242+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 15242                         5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+1539[456]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1539[456]                     5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+1697[347]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1697[347]                     5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+19467+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 19467                         5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N

All of the above are 5+5 format numbers. All of these five digit area codes also share their first four digits with a separate four digit area code. These are "mixed" areas.

The 016977 area code also contains some four digit numbers:

# 0+16977+[23]XXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 16977                         5DIGIT-SPECIALAREA-CODE
P: [23]XXX                       SUBSCRIBER
T: N
U: Y

Here's the simplest explanation I could find for "mixed areas":

http://www.aa-asterisk.org.uk/index.php/Mixed_areas

[g1smdvoip]

Correction to Item 3.

Corrected my typo in the  16977+[23]xxx  rule, in the post above and in the uploaded "corrected" files.

Changed from

T: Y

to

T: N
U: Y

[g1smdvoip · Accepted solution]

Item 4

# 0+3[0347]+[2-9]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 3[0347]                       AREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXXXXX                  SUBSCRIBER

The above rule misses 0300, 0301, 0330, 0331, 0370, 0371 and others.

Additionally, these numbers are 03XX + 7 digits, not 03X + 8 digits:

# 0+3[0347]X+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 3[0347]X                      AREA-CODE
P: XXXXXXX                       SUBSCRIBER  

These are non-geographic numbers that are charged the same as geographic rates and included in "inclusive" minutes.

There's another rule, further down the page that appears to be a duplicate for the 03XX ranges.

# 0+3XXXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 3XXXXXXXXX                    03-NUMBER
T: N

It should probably be amended to this:

# 0+3[0347]XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 3[0347]XXXXXXXX               03-NUMBER
T: N

[g1smdvoip]

Item 5

# 0+8[02]XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 8[02]XXXXXXXX                 FREEPHONE-NUMBER
T: N

082 is not freephone. 082 is used for a completely different service, "schools internet" for which there's no really suitable tag. Within 08, only 0800 and 0808 are freephone.

# 0+82XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 82XXXXXXXX                    BROADBAND-SERVICE
T: N
# 0+80[08]XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 80[08]XXXXXXX                 FREEPHONE-NUMBER
T: N

Additionally, 0800 also has some 6 digit numbers and 0500 always has 6 digits. Those are already correctly listed as shown:

# 0+500XXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 500XXXXXX                     FREEPHONE-NUMBER
T: N
# 0+800XXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 800XXXXXX                     FREEPHONE-NUMBER
T: N

[g1smdvoip]

Item 6

# 0+7[1-5789]+XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 7[1-5789]                     MOBILE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXXX                      MOBILE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

Mobile phone access is 07XXX + 6 digits, not 07X + 8 digits, and should not include 070XX or 076XX, except for the 07624 prefix which is used for mobile phones in the Isle of Man:

# 0+7[1-5789]XX+XXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 7[1-5789]XX                   MOBILE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXX                        MOBILE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+7624+XXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 7624                          MOBILE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXX                        MOBILE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

[g1smdvoip]

Item 7

# 0+84[3-5]+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 84[3-5]                       LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXX                       LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

Numbers beginning 0842, 0843, 0844 are revenue sharing allocations, while 0845 does not allow revenue share. It's better to separate the allocations, as some users may want to block access to the former while allowing the latter.

# 0+84[2-4]+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 84[2-4]                       LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXX                       LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+845+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 845                           LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXX                       LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

Nowadays there is a problem with the naming of the above tags. Numbers in the 084X ranges are no longer charged at a "local rate".

Additionally, numbers in the 0870 and 0871 to 0873 ranges are no longer charged at a "national rate".

# 0+87[1-3]+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 87[1-3]                       NATIONALRATE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXX                       NATIONALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N
# 0+870+XXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 870                           LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: XXXXXXX                       LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

Numbers in the 0871 to 0873 ranges are regulated as premium rate services (as are 070 and 09XX numbers).

In the long term, it might be helpful to find new names for the various 084X and 087X number ranges.

[g1smdvoip]

Item 8

# 0+5[58]XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 5[58]XXXXXXXX                 CORPORATE-NUMBER
T: N

Corporate numbers use only 055 + 8 digits. The 058 prefix is not in use.

# 0+55XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 55XXXXXXXX                    CORPORATE-NUMBER
T: N

[g1smdvoip]

Item 9

# 0+9[2-9]XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 9[2-9]XXXXXXXX                BROADBAND-SERVICE
T: N

If you allow 098X to be a valid prefix for this service, then you allow access to premium rate adult chat lines even though these are already listed separately under 'premium rate numbers':

# 0+9[2-79]XXXXXXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 9[2-79]XXXXXXXX               BROADBAND-SERVICE
T: N

These broadband service allocations were in fact removed from the GB number plan by Ofcom in 2005. This entry could be deleted.

[g1smdvoip]

Item 10

# 0+84[3-5]+4647
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 84[3-5]                       LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: 4647                          LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

There's a special NHS helpline on 0845 4647. This allocation is within the 0845 464 range which is allocated as 0+7 format, i.e. 0845 464X. No such short number allocations exist in the 0843 or 0844 area codes.

# 0+845+464X
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 845                           LOCALRATE-ACCESS
P: 464X                          LOCALRATE-SUBSCRIBER
T: N

Nowadays there is a problem with the naming of this tag. Numbers in this range are no longer charged at a "local rate".

[g1smdvoip]

Item 11

# 0+1697[34]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1697[34]                      AREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N

There are three five digit area codes beginning 01697X. These are 016973, 016974 and 016977. One was previously missing from the file:

# 0+1697[347]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1697[347]                     AREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N

[g1smdvoip]

Item 12

These five digit area codes with five digit numbers were missing from the file:

# 0+1768[347]+[2-9]XXXX
P: 0                             NATIONAL-ACCESS
P: 1768[347]                     AREA-CODE
P: [2-9]XXXX                     SUBSCRIBER
T: N

There are twelve area codes with 5+5 format numbers. These three were missing from the file.

[g1smdvoip]

Correction to Item 12.

Corrected my typo in the  1768[347]+[2-9]xxxx  rule, in the post above and in the uploaded "corrected" files.

Changed from

1768[34]

to

1768[347]