Ofcom has amended its proposals to regulate voice over IP (VoIP) services in the UK and introduced a new UK national telephony numbering plan to allow for future growth of telephone services and reduce the cost of premium-rate help or sales lines.

A revised consultation paper published last week narrows the focus of proposed legislation to cover providers of specific voice over IP (VoIP) services, rather than carriers building next-generation IP telecoms networks.

The document also specifies measures to protect customers in the event of service unavailability, and suggests providers should deliver access to emergency service numbers. It also says users should be allowed to take their numbers with them so they do not need a new number every time they sign up to a new service.

Ofcom has also published a UK national telephony numbering plan, which will affect both analogue and IP telephony services. It includes a new 03 country-wide number for use by companies requiring a national presence without charging premium rates to the people calling them.