In connection with the widespread information on the proposed by “BTC” possibility after 10^th of March,.2011 the dialling of fixed numbers within one settlement to be carried out both with a code and a prefix, and without a code and a prefix, the CRC considers it necessary to clarify the following:

 

Until 00:00 h. on 10^th of March, 2011, all undertakings providing public voice service should ensure technically the dialling of fixed numbers to be carried out with a prefix and an area code. Since this date the dialling of numbers in the present way (without a prefix and a code) should be suspended, as it is not allowed parallel use of open and closed dialling. This obligation ensues from the adopted by the Communications Regulation Commission after a public consultation Ordinance No 1 of 22 July 2010 on the rules for allocation and the procedures for primary and secondary assignment for use, reservation and withdrawal of numbers, addresses and names, in force from 17.08.2010 (promulgated SG, issue 64 of 17 August 2010, amended SG issue 12 of 8 February 2011).

 

The intention of the CRC to introduce closed dialling is stated on 05^th of May.2010 with launching a public consultation procedure on “Position on changing the way of geographic numbers dialling in the Republic of Bulgaria by introducing closed dialling”. The CRC actions, related to the introduction of these changes, have been consecutive, transparent and explicit. In this regard, the undertakings were allowed to express their position and to submit their proposals regarding the change in the dialling in Bulgaria. We believe that nearly a year is sufficient time to prepare and to implement the technical modifications in the operators’ networks and to inform the subscribers. It should be noted that the regulator provided additional time to all undertakings to prepare the introduction of the closed dialling as it postponed its beginning with two more months.

 

The Communications Regulation Commission considers for inconsistent the widespread thesis that the closed dialling will impede the Bulgarian consumers. For this reason, the CRC has required from the undertakings to carry out a timely campaign to inform the subscribers regarding the coming change. It should be added also that currently the BTC’s subscribers in some settlements have already used only the dialling with a code and a prefix. As a result of the introduction of the change imposed by the CRC, as of 10^th of March, 2011 the way for dialling of all kinds of numbers in Bulgaria will be unified, which will be in favor both to the consumers and the competition in the market.