Chapter 7 - Numbering Management Database
This Chapter addresses Concrete deliverable No. 6 - Recommendations on the development of a numbers management database.
Development of a numbers management database
A register of each allocation of a number block to any operator is a key requirement for sound numbering management. At present, the MPT relies on allocating large blocks of numbers so that records allocations are simple and paper based. This is a simple and workable method but does not accommodate close management of the number space and results in inefficient use of numbers, poor understanding of operator use of numbers, identification of developing shortages and means that it is possible for some allocations to be duplicated (e.g. short codes). Update and maintenance of the data is also subject to significant human error.
A modern database for use in developed countries is necessarily different from the system in a developing country. In a developed country the database might be expected to:
• be operable from several regulator locations (probably web based access to readily attach to the corporate intranet);
• incorporate separate and strong authentication for users, maintainers and developers
• incorporate automatic backup of system and data to an offsite facility
• be structured to reflect the National Number Plan with easy remote access and navigation for users;
• support many operators seeking many different types of numbers (possibly enabling automatic allocation of number blocks in straightforward cases) and be able to support multiple simultaneous transactions;
• record, track, and efficiently manage online applications for numbering resources;
• provide for a number of standard searches of the contents of the database;
• monitor and assign number blocks from a centralized database (to save time and minimize potential human errors)
• provide for online surrender or withdrawal of number blocks
• deal with aspects of number portability (for some implementations)
• generate reports such as detailed usage metrics, forecasts of future number space availability, fees collected or outstanding etc.;
• manage varied application fees, and annual charges, generate invoices and accept online payments; and
• generate standard letters for the most common functions.