Talktime for flat-rate internet?

trap4

I phoned up eircom yesterday to ask if their Talktime Anytime package included internet calls and it doesn't. But I seem to remember someone saying somewhere that you O2 have local ISP numbers for the whole country and he was using them for free internet via a UTV package. So surely I could do the same with eircom Talktime?

Gone West

AFAIK, all the ISPs have migrated to national 1890/1/2 numbers for dial up internet.

eircomtribunal

FuzzyLogic wrote:

AFAIK, all the ISPs have migrated to national 1890/1/2 numbers for dial up internet.

Imo ComReg's FRIACO regulation and implementation has always been a failure – and the latest ComReg Quarterly figures (Trendwatch) confirm that opinion, with no migration to FRIACO, static at 6% of Internet users, still substantially lower than the obsolete rip-off "net subscription" packages.

With the new Eircom unlimited national talktime + line rental for € 39.99 a month, (that is under € 15 for unlimited national calls) the FRIACO regulation and pricing structure gets exposed as absolutely ridiculous. FRIACO a la ComReg is a barrier to Internet access and not the tool it was intended to become by Dermot Ahern's policy direction. Ireland's home Internet penetration, stagnant at a dismal 36%, will dash any hopes for Ireland to catch up with the broadband penetration levels of our EU neighbours.

It is high time to slash the FRIACO port prices radically, so that each and everybody can get offered dial-up Internet access for a tenner or less per month.

While ISP's will have changed to the dedicated numbers, what reason is there to go back and offer the service via normal numbers?

P.

Tom Young

Peter,

Basically ComReg's numbering conventions 03/45 prohibit use of dialed numbers outside their prescribed MNA (Minimum Numbering Area) some call that Std code area.

There's nothing stopping people trying to get modem access via talktime tariffs in-fact on regularised PSTN numbers it might be worthwhile.

eircom used this numbering convention issue in 2000 to hinder new entrant operators from providing dial-internet access over regular interconnection, over and above their LAPOP access arrangements. They wanted operators to either have modem banks in each MNA/County or use a 189X offering, with little feasible return. Thus 189X numbers cannot be carried on CPS/Carrier Pre Selection in Ireland. eircom complained over mean-hold call times etc.

The arguement was that the address/number dialled was not necessarily the address of the region or area of termination.

You do realise numbering is our most precious scarce national resource, right next to Guinness and use of the Irish language in fast food joints
Check the EU Framework USO directive's if you want to have a snooze.

Additionally, you might note that in the nomadic VoIP '076' discussion's eircom request sub-local tariffs, any guesses why? ....they have the symmetric dial network not anyone else.

The burden of proof would luy with the effected carrier.

Please also note the current ComReg consultation on Numbering Conventions.

Sponge Bob

Why Comreg never brought in a simple regional presentation is beyond me. That way a regional ISP in Cork could get an 02 number at a local rate but National beyond that .

Only 01 02 04 05 06 07 09 are used so that a dial up ISP should only need 7 numbers for nationwide coverage.

03 numbers would been perfect for VoIP IMO

Tom Young

03 numbers would been perfect for VoIP IMO[/QUOTE]

You know all numbers are available for VoIP [except mobiles], it's the dial-up access we are discussing. The reason we needed a nomadic range 076-X is because the line provider have USO obligations with respect to 999/112 access. This is called PATS, or being a Publicly Available Telephone Service.

OFCOM had no view on fixed line numbering being nomadic and thus is having its number space 'hoovered' by the new Next Gen. VoIP providers. A consultation on Number Conservation is expected soon.

The inherant issue with the numbering scheme is that it was designed to cater for a gross population of circa 3.8 million. Thus we are going to see some numbering changes soon. All those civil servant's need phones that are going to be re-located to the country. I dare suggest they may also like DSL :eek:

Anyhow, suck it and see if Talktime works with an ISP who are offering geo ranges.

d-j-k

03 is reserved for changes in the geographic numbering plan.

I get the impression Dublin may move from 01 to 031,032,033 etc + 7 digits. It would open up a lot more numbers in the Dublin area and would be minimally disruptive and bring the Dublin area into line with all of the recent 0XX - XXX XXXX areas. Or to 03 + 8 Digits.

They could also move to 03 + 8 digits.

It would open the + 353 1 code for other non-geographic services e.g. access to irish 1-800, 1-850, 1-890 etc could be facilitated via +353 1 800 etc

They should move all the existing codes codes to 0XX + 7 digits too.. just to keep things simple.

E.g. Cork City is 021 XXX XXXX
While the county has 022,023,024,025,026,027,028 & 029 + 5-digits.

Surely they could just open up 020 22 XXXXX 020 23 020 24XXXXX etc simplifying the dialling in Cork and opening up huge numbers of extra numbering space.

Likewise the remaining 06X + 5 codes should be merged into 064+7

Limerick, Galway and Waterford could be merged with their hinterland to give you 051,061 and 091 + 7 digits.

And the rest could easily be rationalised too.. There's no need for all these endless little area codes.. Just a few city codes and large geographical area codes. After all, the price of a call's not relevant to what the area code is anyway anymore!