CHAPTER 9

Technical regulations to ensure users have freedom of choice and telecommunications systems function properly

The scope of technical regulation

In order to ensure the growth of the telecommunications market and that new players begin to build networks and offer services, a certain number of common technical rules are needed to guarantee interoperability between networks and services.

One of the main positive traditions in the telecommunications sector is universal service. The freedom of the user relative to the operator must be maintained and developed, so that every citizen has the ability to communicate anywhere and with anyone without any limits being imposed by excessive specific technical requirements set by an operator trying to "seal off" its customer base.

The objectives of technical regulations are open systems and portability.

Technical regulation applies to three main areas:

- networks;

- interfaces between networks and terminal equipment;

- the use of the radio spectrum.

These regulations take the form of general operating principles or of specific provisions included in an operator's licence

Occasionally, the applicable regulations are purely national, but more often they are based on European or international decisions and recommendations. In addition, a significant part of the DGPT's activity in this area involves active participation in the many international working groups that draw up regulations and voluntary standards.

1. The rules for networks

1.1. A new telephone numbering system in France

The central focus of activity in 1994 was the plan for a national numbering system.. The current system was saturated and had to be replaced in 1996.

system using 10 digits. This proposal was adopted and will encourage several objectives: the growth of new services, in particular mobile telephony, the promotion of competition from new market operators, and bringing the national network into line with the relevant European directives.

Thus, the new system provides for using "00" instead of "19" for international access and "112" for reaching emergency services. For these latter services, the DGPT, with the support of the Inspectorate General, led a concerted interministerial effort that will set new procedures for handling these calls.

Subsequent to these decisions, special committees were set up under the authority of the DGPT. They regularly contact the trade associations, representatives of users and France Télécom in order to analyse all the conditions required to implement the new system: informing the business community and users, adapting private systems, and scheduling the operation. An inventory of complex facilities was begun which could lead to setting up a database.

As the public consultation showed that the general opinion was that the numbering system was a public asset that should be managed as a public resource, the DGPT was designated as the manager of this resource. It will now proceed to allocate blocks of numbers to operators for the different services on the market. In 1994, it was mobile services that required the most attention, due to the competition existing in the field.

There is still only very limited international harmonisation of numbering systems. However, with the appearance of cross-border operators, this is an increasingly important subject. Projects are being developed within both the ITU and the CEPT that need to be followed attentively: for example, the global harmonisation of freephone services (800).

The new numbering system

In the new numbering system to be implemented in 1996, all telephone numbers in France will have 10 digits, based on the format EZ ABPQ MCDU. It will be necessary to dial 10 digits to call any number in the country.

The system is thus homogeneous and without ambiguities, as two subscribers will never have the same number, unlike the current system where two subscribers, one in the provinces and one in the Paris area, could be allocated the same ABPQMCDU, which gives rise to errors.

The system is easy to implement and does not require major changes in numbers. Each subscriber will simply add a set of two digits, EZ, which depend on the geographic area where the subscriber resides, in front of the current number, ABPQMCDU:

For example, 44 44 22 22 in the Paris region will become 01 44 44 22 22.

There are special provisions for the Overseas Departments, though still using 10 digits.

Mobile services will be gathered in a special block, beginning with 06. Non-geographic national services, such as freephone numbers, will be brought together in a block beginning with 08.

The blocks beginning 07 and 09 are reserved.

In the long term, the number represented by E could have values other than "0", depending on new necessities arising from the opening of telephone service to competition, which is set for January 1998.

The new system will not affect call charges.

1.2. Network security

2. Interfaces between networks and terminals: approval procedures

3. Good use of the radio spectrum

4. Changes in technical standards

Chapter X