[LINK] Fears for telephone number system

[David Lochrin]

On Tuesday 26 October 2010 16:39, Scott Howard wrote:

> > My understanding is that any organisation providing a telephone service
> > must follow the Australian numbering rules published by ACMA.  It would be
> > possible to hijack these numbers, locate the subscriber anywhere, then use
> > the 'net to provide connectivity, but that would be highly illegal.
> >  Furthermore, the subscriber could not be called using any service other
> > than that of the rogue carrier.
> >
> 
> It's the Internet - how would they know?

They wouldn't know, providing all calls to that number go via the service provider so the number is not visible on the national PSTN.  But in that case why would the VoIP provider bother hijacking numbers from the national numbering scheme anyway?  They might just as well invent their own.

Eventually ACMA would probably find out because someone complains to the Telstra "service difficulties" call centre that they can't ring their mate Scot in San Franscisco Bay on (02) xxxx-xxxx the way they usually do....

> Hint: if you call my 02 phone number, it'll ring here in the San Francisco
> Bay Area, not somewhere in NSW.

Yes, but I imagine your incoming calls are correctly routed over the national PSTN to your number in NSW before you then route them onto the Internet.  In effect, you have a very big private extension across the Pacific.  I think that's perfectly legal (but I'm not sure!) as long as you don't carry other people's traffic.

I subscribe to the "Engin" VoIP service provider whose numbering is completely respectable.  For $19.95 p.m. all my national calls are untimed and free, as well as calls to a number of other countries (including the U.S.).

David