Dec 15, 2007

Non Geographic numbers for Mexico???

Non Geo numbers do not really exist in Mexico. This is only my dream, as I am often in a sleepy state of consciousness.

I propose that Non Geographic numbers be assigned in Mexico in the following way:

  • All Non Geographic number should have AUTOMATIC ENUM entries. An entire number range may be assigned to a provider anywhere in the world, and numbers would be assigned 100 at a time to keep them from being exhausted. Each assignment would include the corresponding ENUM ( Let's not revisit http://www.enum.org.mx) entries to reference the providers' SIP Proxy address.
  • ENUM entries should reference ONLY SIP addresses, thereby eliminating the need to accommodate multiple protocols, and keeping the cost down.
  • All non geographic numbers should use the code 520 , just as cell phones now use 521. There are already city codes that occupy ALL other possibilities such as 522, 523, 524, etc. This would also make it very easy for the caller to know that they are calling a non geographic number. Domestically however a special code may need to be assigned much like local cell phones are dialed as 044 and long distance cell phones are dialed as 045 from within Mexico. I think the domestic dial plan in Mexico is overly confusing and in need of dire reorganization, however that may only cause more confusion. Perhaps the domestic dial plan should be more conformed to the international dial plan?
  • All provides should be required to terminate calls to non-geographic numbers at the same cost as a local call! As this cost is currently about $0.14 US Dollars per call this is abnormally high and should well accommodate a ROI for companies such as Telmex who would only need to gateway those calls out to SIP addresses.
  • The allocation of non-geographic numbers should not preclude the use of geographic numbers for VoIP. Instead, it should only allow an alternative, and a means by which particularly international companies may more easily acquire DID that are more more "friendly" and less cost than toll free, or multiple local DIDs.

I really think that companies like TelMex might whine at the need to accommodate such calls , however Telmex is currently known to be developing VoIP products to compete in the market, so the infrastructure to deliver these calls may already be in place. As for the CLECs , they are for the most part , already using SIP and it is a no-brainer for them. IUt may however force them to open their SIP proxies to allow inbound non-geographic ENUM calls at least.

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