DEVELOPMENTS towards the introduction of fixed-line competition tends to generate the most headlines for the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA), but one of its biggest decisions last year concerned the humble telephone number.
It would surprise most people to learn its true value.
In a competitive telecommunications market, any company that controls the network numbering system has an edge over its competitors - advantage that can be valued in billions of dollars.
One of the first pro-active decisions made by OFTA was to recognise that the telephone numbering system was a public resource.
And it took over the responsibility for number allocation from Hongkong Telecom to ensure that each competing network was treated fairly.
Based on a report by British consultants Ovum prepared last year, OFTA announced it would convert the current seven-digit numbering system to eight digits from January 1 next year.
The Ovum report found that the seven-digit system had reached its logical limits and would not be able to cope with expected growth in demand for fixed and mobile telecommunications.
