The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has issued a consultation paper seeking public views on the future arrangements for directory services.

The office has initiated the review to update the regulatory regime as the public's practice of using directory services has undergone substantial changes since the liberalisation of the local fixed-telephone services, the telecommunications industry's rapid development and the advent of new technologies.

A public survey early this year showed demand for the printed directory is low. The majority of respondents said they had never used or had not used such a service in the past year.

Another survey showed the 1081/1083 telephone directory enquiry service was commonly used by telephone subscribers with more than 99% making 10 or less enquiry calls a month, while a small number of subscribers generated a disproportionately large number of enquiry calls.

Proposals for consideration

Based on these findings the office proposes to remove the mandatory requirement for fixed network operators to provide the printed directory to customers which will reduce unnecessary paper consumption.

As the imbalanced use of the enquiry service may create an unfair situation whereby the majority of the subscribers are subsidising a small number of heavy users, the office wants to know whether some form of arrangements should be made to address such a concern.

The proposals will allow operators to re-allocate resources to provide other services in greater demand in this highly competitive market for the benefit of the general public.

Views are also sought on other issues, including whether or not there is a need to extend the directory services to cover mobile numbers.

People should submit their views to the office by January 5. Click here for the consultation paper and here for the survey report.