Wireless Local Loop Service Numbers (‘030’)
Wireless fixed services are provided for in the number plan in the ‘030’ number space at seven digit subscriber numbers and with specific allocations of two or three lead digits to each operator. As for mobile services, operators have multiple allocations of two or three lead digits. These lead digits again are used as a proxy for operator identification codes so that calls to other networks ar appropriately routed to the intended destination.
WLL numbers (as with mobile numbers) are non-geographic and hence calling a WLL number requires dialling a total of ten digits (‘030’ + YY +XX XXX or ‘30’ + YYY + X XXX where YY or YYY is the operator allocated block and XX XXX or X XXX is the subscriber number).
Noting that with the ‘030’ WLL prefix, there are seven following digits, the number space reserved for WLL services is enough to accommodate 8 million number assignments (noting that digits ‘0’ and ‘1’ are not used for the first digit of operator indicators numbers)
With multiple prefixes assigned for each operator for mobile and WLL services, and further prefixes required for any additional number block allocations, the “Operator Prefix” arrangement has diminishing value as an operator indicator from a user perspective. It will progressively transform itself into simple number block allocations, each block requiring an activation process by other operators to ensure calls to that prefix are directed to the relevant operator.