Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025

The Australian Communications and Media Authority makes this instrument under subsection 13(1) of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.

Dated: 21 March 2025

Adam Suckling

[signed]

Member

Michael Brealey

[signed

General Manager

1  Name of Determination

This is the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025.

2  Commencement

This instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Note:  The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.

3  Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 13(1) of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.

4  Repeal of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015

The Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015 [Registration No. F2015L01152] is repealed.

5  Definitions

 (1) In this instrument:

Act means the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.

charge has the same meaning as in section 10 of the Act.

diamond smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a diamond smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.

gold smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a gold smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.

list of smartnumber classifications means the list of smartnumbers published on the ACMA’s website that lists whether a particular smartnumber is:

1.            a platinum smartnumber;
2.            a diamond smartnumber;
3.            a gold smartnumber;
4.            an opal smartnumber; or
5.            a silver smartnumber;

as existing on the day this instrument commences.

Note: The ACMA’s website is www.acma.gov.au

opal smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as an opal smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.

Plan means the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025.

platinum smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a platinum smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.

silver smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a silver smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.

standard smartnumber means a smartnumber that is not:

1.            a platinum smartnumber;
2.            a diamond smartnumber;
3.            a gold smartnumber;
4.            an opal smartnumber; or
5.            a silver smartnumber.

Note:   In accordance with paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003, other expressions in this instrument have the same meaning as in the Act, including:

• ACMA (see section 5)
• allocation (see section 5)
• carriage service provider (see section 5)
• number (see section 5)
• standard telephone service (see section 5).

 (2) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, words and phrases defined in the Plan have the meaning given by the Plan, including:

1.            access code;
2.            assigned unallocated smartnumber;
3.            freephone number;
4.            geographic number;
5.            international signalling point code;
6.             internet of things service number;
7.            local rate number;
8.            mobile network code;
9.             mobile number;
10.             smartnumber;
11.            special services number;
12.             unassigned unallocated smartnumber.

6  References to other instruments

In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:

(a) a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and

(b) a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other instrument or writing as in force or existing at the commencement of this instrument.

Note: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.

7  Determination of charges

 (1) For a number that is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is the amount in column 2 of the item.

Table 1—Charges imposed on freephone and local rate numbers (other than smartnumbers)

 (2) For a number that is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is:

 (a) the amount in column 2 of the item (base amount); divided by

 (b) the quantity of numbers included in the application for allocation of the number.

Table 2—Charges imposed on access codes, mobile numbers and special services numbers, international signalling point codes and mobile network codes

Note:  In accordance with subsection 49(2) of the Plan, numbers are generally allocated in multiples of standard units.  The amount of allocation charge imposed on a single number will be the quotient of the base rate divided by the quantity of numbers in the application.

Example: There are 1 000 numbers in a standard unit of special services numbers specified for use with an internal network service.  An application for two standard units of special services numbers specified for use with an internal network service is an application for 2 000 numbers.  The allocation charge imposed on any one number covered by an application for two standard units will be:

    $57 ÷ 2 000 = $0.0285

 (3) For the purposes of subsection (2):

 (a) a special services number is specified for use with a type of service if the type of service is mentioned for the number in column 3 of a table in Schedule 5 to the Plan;

 (b) an access code is specified for use with a type of service if the type of service is mentioned for the number in column 3 of a table in Schedule 6 to the Plan.

Note:  See subsections 22(2) and 29(3) of the Plan.

 (4) For an unassigned unallocated smartnumber that:

 (a) is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table; and

 (b) begins with the digits set out in column 2 of the item; and

 (c) has the quantity of digits set out in column 3 of the item;

  the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the unassigned unallocated smartnumber is the amount in column 4 of the item.

Table 3—Charges imposed on unassigned unallocated smartnumbers

Note 1: Unassigned unallocated smartnumbers are allocated under section 51 of the Numbering Plan.

Note 2: The quantity of digits set out in column 3 of an item includes the first digits set out in column 2 of that item.

 (5) For any number that is not mentioned in subsections (1) to (4), the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is zero.

Note 1: Subsection 15(1) of the Act exempts from charge geographic numbers allocated to carriage service providers for the purposes of providing a standard telephone service to a customer.

Note 2: Subsection 457(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 requires an allocation charge for a number to be refunded if the charge is tendered but the application for the number is not successful.

8  Transitional

If:

 (a) an application was made under the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 for allocation of a number; and

 (b) section 127 of the Plan requires the application to be dealt with in accordance with the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 as if that instrument had not been repealed;

then:

 (c) this instrument does not apply to any allocation of a number as a result of that application; and

 (d) the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015 applies to an allocation of a number as a result of that application, as if that instrument had not been repealed.