ACMA has today mailed the industry to point out that last year they issued numbers in the “02 79xx xxxx” range to several carriers, and that lucky customers with the new prefixes are complaining they can’t be called. Clearly there are plenty of PABXs (and perhaps the odd Lync or OCS installation) that don’t cater for this previously unused “B-digit” in their normalisation, routing, barring, etc.
Here’s the blurb:
CPE NEEDS REPROGRAMMING NOW
In July 2012, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) created the following prefix to supplement existing geographic numbers which were running out.
| State | New Prefix |
| NSW | (02) 79 |
The following blocks of numbers have since been allocated by the ACMA from this prefix.
| Prefix | Number Length | From | To | Quantity | Allocatee | Allocation Date | Numbering Area |
| 0279 | 10 | 0279002000 | 0279021999 | 20,000 | Soul Pattinson Telecommunications Pty Limited | 20-Nov-2012 | Sydney_(SZU) |
| 0279 | 10 | 0279030000 | 0279039999 | 10,000 | Agile Pty Ltd | 24-Dec-2012 | Sydney_(SZU) |
We have been informed that calls to some end users are being blocked. Customer premises equipment (CPE) must be reprogrammed to ensure calls to newly introduced geographic numbers are not blocked.
The latest numbering plan documents can be downloaded from HERE. Jump to “Schedule 1—Geographic numbers” for the breakdown.
Whilst you’re adding “02 7”, perhaps add “03 7” at the same time, and maybe give your numbering plan a general spring-clean (in time for the Aussie winter) too.
Revision History
10th October 2021. Updated the ACMA link.
21st May 2013. This is the initial publication.
G.
