ANACOM has approved the designation of numbering range “116” of the National Numbering Plan (NNP) to accommodate harmonised services of social value and the designation of each number “116xxx” in the NNP for the respective service, in compliance with Decision 2007/116/EC, of 15 February 2007.
According to article 2 of the Decision, a harmonised service of social value means “a service meeting a common description to be accessed by individuals via a freephone number, which is potentially of value to visitors from other countries and which answers a specific social need, in particular which contributes to the well-being or safety of citizens, or particular groups of citizens, or helps citizens in difficulty”.
This determination, adopted on 5 September 2007, also approved the procedures for allocation of rights of use for numbers of numbering range “116”, as well as the conditions for allocation and use attached to these numbers.
In fact, it is incumbent upon ANACOM to manage the NNP according to the principles of transparency, effectiveness, equality and non-discrimination, as well as to allocate rights of use for numbers, according to objective, transparent and non-discriminatory procedures. The rights of use for numbers may be granted both to providers of electronic communication networks or services or to companies that use those networks or services; in this case, such entities are not under the obligation to notify the start of activity or to carry out the respective registration at ANACOM.
However, this Authority is not responsible for assessing and evaluating the capacity of entities to provide a social service. Parties interested in providing services of social value must thus present a document issued by the Ministry or Administrative Authority responsible for the area wherein the service is integrated, which qualifies the entity to provide this service, certifying in this way the social nature and applicability of the service in Portugal.
As each number “116xxx” is exclusive for each service, the right of use for a specific number may only be granted, at a given time, to a single entity, and for this reason the qualifying document acknowledges the fact that such entity provides the service under consideration on an exclusive basis.
In short, ANACOM allocates the right of use for the number to the entity who places such a request and attaches the particulars laid down in the procedures for allocation of rights of use of numbers “116xxx”, this entity being subject to the respective conditions of use of the number.
Consult:
- Designation of numbering range ''116'' for harmonised services of social value https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=518462
Further information:
- 2007/116/EC - Commission Decision of 15 February 2007 on reserving the national numbering range beginning with ''116'' for harmonised numbers for harmonised services of social value http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1433424961503&uri=CELEX:32007D0116