{"id":"F2025L00413","name":"Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025","slug":"telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106233,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L00413-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025","content":"![Commonwealth of Australia coat of arms](image.001.jpeg)\n\nTelecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025\n\nThe Australian Communications and Media Authority makes this instrument under subsection 13(1) of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.\n\nDated: 21 March 2025\n\nAdam Suckling\n\n\\[signed\\]\n\nMember\n\nMichael Brealey\n\n\\[signed\n\nGeneral Manager\n\nAustralian Communications and Media Authority\n\n1 Name of Determination\n\nThis is the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2025.\n\n2 Commencement\n\nThis instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\nNote: The Federal Register of Legislation may be accessed free of charge at www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n3 Authority\n\nThis instrument is made under subsection 13(1) of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.\n\n4 Repeal of the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015\n\nThe Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015 \\[Registration No. F2015L01152\\] is repealed.\n\n5 Definitions\n\n(1) In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997.\n\ncharge has the same meaning as in section 10 of the Act.\n\ndiamond smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a diamond smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.\n\ngold smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a gold smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.\n\nlist of smartnumber classifications means the list of smartnumbers published on the ACMA’s website that lists whether a particular smartnumber is:\n\n a platinum smartnumber;\n a diamond smartnumber;\n a gold smartnumber;\n an opal smartnumber; or\n a silver smartnumber;\n\n> Note: as existing on the day this instrument commences.\n\n> Note: The ACMA’s website is www.acma.gov.au\n\nopal smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as an opal smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.\n\nPlan means the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025.\n\nplatinum smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a platinum smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.\n\nsilver smartnumber means a smartnumber that is listed as a silver smartnumber on the list of smartnumber classifications.\n\nstandard smartnumber means a smartnumber that is not:\n\n a platinum smartnumber;\n a diamond smartnumber;\n a gold smartnumber;\n an opal smartnumber; or\n a silver smartnumber.\n\n> Note: In accordance with paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003, other expressions in this instrument have the same meaning as in the Act, including:\n\n> Note: ACMA (see section 5)\n\n> Note: allocation (see section 5)\n\n> Note: carriage service provider (see section 5)\n\n> Note: number (see section 5)\n\n> Note: standard telephone service (see section 5).\n\n(2) In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears, words and phrases defined in the Plan have the meaning given by the Plan, including:\n\n access code;\n assigned unallocated smartnumber;\n freephone number;\n geographic number;\n international signalling point code;\n internet of things service number;\n local rate number;\n mobile network code;\n mobile number;\n smartnumber;\n special services number;\n unassigned unallocated smartnumber.\n\n6 References to other instruments\n\n In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n(a) a reference to any other legislative instrument is a reference to that other legislative instrument as in force from time to time; and\n\n(b) a reference to any other kind of instrument or writing is a reference to that other instrument or writing as in force or existing at the commencement of this instrument.\n\nNote: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.\n\n7 Determination of charges\n\n(1) For a number that is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is the amount in column 2 of the item.\n\nTable 1—Charges imposed on freephone and local rate numbers (other than smartnumbers)\n\n| | Column 1Number | Column 2Charge |\n| --- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------- |\n| 1 | Freephone number, other than a freephone number that is a smartnumber | $57 |\n| 2 | Local rate number, other than a local rate number that is a smartnumber | $57 |\n| | | |\n\n(2) For a number that is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table, the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is:\n\n (a) the amount in column 2 of the item (base amount); divided by\n (b) the quantity of numbers included in the application for allocation of the number.\n\nTable 2—Charges imposed on access codes, mobile numbers and special services numbers, international signalling point codes and mobile network codes\n\n| | Column 1Number | Column 2Base amount |\n| --- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |\n| 1 | Access code specified for use with a virtual private network service | $57 |\n| 2 | Access code specified for use with an incoming only international service | $57 |\n| 3 | Access code specified for use with an international service | $57 |\n| 4 | Access code specified for use with an interconnect and routing service | $57 |\n| 5 | Assigned unallocated smartnumber | $57 |\n| 6 | International signalling point code | $57 |\n| 7 | Mobile network code | $57 |\n| 8 | Mobile number | $57 |\n| 9 | Special services number specified for use with a community service | $57 |\n| 10 | Special services number specified for use with a data network access service | $57 |\n| 11 | Special services number specified for use with an internet of things service | $57 |\n| 12 | Special services number specified for use with a public safety service | $57 |\n| 13 | Special services number specified for use with a satellite telephone service | $57 |\n| 14 | Special services number specified for use with a testing service | $57 |\n| 15 | Special services number specified for use with an internal network service | $57 |\n| 16 | Special services number specified for use with an operator service | $57 |\n| | | |\n\n> Note: In accordance with subsection 49(2) of the Plan, numbers are generally allocated in multiples of standard units. The amount of allocation charge imposed on a single number will be the quotient of the base rate divided by the quantity of numbers in the application.\n\n> Note: Example: There are 1 000 numbers in a standard unit of special services numbers specified for use with an internal network service. An application for two standard units of special services numbers specified for use with an internal network service is an application for 2 000 numbers. The allocation charge imposed on any one number covered by an application for two standard units will be:\n\n> Note: $57 ÷ 2 000 \\= $0.0285\n\n(3) For the purposes of subsection (2):\n\n (a) a special services number is specified for use with a type of service if the type of service is mentioned for the number in column 3 of a table in Schedule 5 to the Plan;\n (b) an access code is specified for use with a type of service if the type of service is mentioned for the number in column 3 of a table in Schedule 6 to the Plan.\n\n> Note: See subsections 22(2) and 29(3) of the Plan.\n\n(4) For an unassigned unallocated smartnumber that:\n\n (a) is mentioned in column 1 of an item in the following table; and\n (b) begins with the digits set out in column 2 of the item; and\n (c) has the quantity of digits set out in column 3 of the item;\n\nthe amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the unassigned unallocated smartnumber is the amount in column 4 of the item.\n\nTable 3—Charges imposed on unassigned unallocated smartnumbers\n\n```html\n

Column 1

Number

Column 2

First digits

Column 3

Quantity of digits

Column 4

Charge

1

Platinum smartnumber

1300

10

$20 000

2

Platinum smartnumber

1800

10

$20 000

3

Platinum smartnumber

13

6

$16 000

4

Diamond smartnumber

1300

10

$8 000

5

Diamond smartnumber

1800

10

$8 000

6

Diamond smartnumber

13

6

$8 000

7

Gold smartnumber

1300

10

$4 500

8

Gold smartnumber

1800

10

$4 500

9

Gold smartnumber

13

6

$6 000

10

Opal smartnumber

1300

10

$1 500

11

Opal smartnumber

1800

10

$1 500

12

Opal smartnumber

13

6

$2 400

13

Silver smartnumber

1300

10

$750

14

Silver smartnumber

1800

10

$750

15

Silver smartnumber

13

6

$1 200

16

Standard smartnumber

1300

10

$250

17

Standard smartnumber

1800

10

$250

18

Standard smartnumber

13

6

$400

\n```\n\n> Note 1: Unassigned unallocated smartnumbers are allocated under section 51 of the Numbering Plan.\n\n> Note 2: The quantity of digits set out in column 3 of an item includes the first digits set out in column 2 of that item.\n\n(5) For any number that is not mentioned in subsections (1) to (4), the amount of charge imposed on the allocation of the number is zero.\n\n> Note 1: Subsection 15(1) of the Act exempts from charge geographic numbers allocated to carriage service providers for the purposes of providing a standard telephone service to a customer.\n\n> Note 2: Subsection 457(2) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 requires an allocation charge for a number to be refunded if the charge is tendered but the application for the number is not successful.\n\n8 Transitional\n\nIf:\n\n (a) an application was made under the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 for allocation of a number; and\n (b) section 127 of the Plan requires the application to be dealt with in accordance with the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015 as if that instrument had not been repealed;\n then:\n (c) this instrument does not apply to any allocation of a number as a result of that application; and\n (d) the Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) (Allocation Charge) Determination 2015 applies to an allocation of a number as a result of that application, as if that instrument had not been repealed.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument repeals the 2015 Determination (s4) and replaces it with a new schedule of allocation charges (s7). It introduces explicit dollar charges for specified number categories and a method for allocating a base amount across the quantity of numbers in an application (s7(2)). It also preserves the 2015 rules for pending applications made under the old Plan (s8)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple distinct fee categories and many smartnumber classifications (platinum, diamond, gold, opal, silver, standard)","Tiered pricing mechanism: fixed charges, base amounts divided by quantity of numbers in an application (s7(2))","Cross-references to the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025 and its schedules for definitions and service specifications (s5, s6, s7(3))","Reliance on ACMA’s externally published list of smartnumber classifications (s5 definitions and notes)","Transitional saving for applications made under the prior Numbering Plan (s8)","Repeal of the 2015 Determination and continuity provisions requiring administrative tracking of legacy applications (s4, s8)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination replaces the 2015 allocation-charge schedule and prescribes the dollar amounts payable when the ACMA allocates telephone numbers. It lists fixed charges for categories such as freephone, local‑rate, access codes, mobile and special service numbers, and a graded schedule for smartnumber classes (platinum/diamond/gold/opal/silver).\n\nIt affects applicants for number allocations (typically carriage service providers or their customers) by changing the upfront cost of obtaining numbers, thereby altering incentives and the compliance cost of acquiring numbered resources."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument maintains the same scope as its 2015 predecessor. It continues to set allocation charges for the same categories of numbers (smartnumbers, freephone, local rate, mobile, special services, etc.) using the same tiered classification system. The 2025 version updates the dollar amounts and references the new Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025, but does not expand the scope to cover new number types or services."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple defined terms (12 explicit definitions in section 5, plus incorporated definitions from the parent Act and the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025)","Cross-references to external instruments: Telecommunications (Numbering Charges) Act 1997, Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025, and the repealed 2015 versions of both","Tiered pricing structure with 18 separate price points in Table 3 based on three variables: classification tier (6 levels), prefix (13, 1300, 1800), and digit length","Mathematical calculation required for bulk allocations (section 7(2)): base amount divided by quantity of numbers","Conditional logic for number specifications requiring reference to Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 of the Numbering Plan","Transitional provision with nested conditions (section 8) preserving old regime for pending applications"],"plain_english_summary":"ACMA updates its 2015 pricing schedule for 2025, imposing tiered fees for premium \"smartnumbers\" (a graded market for memorable vanity numbers) while keeping a low flat allocation fee for most other number types. A transitional rule lets applications made under the old system proceed under prior fees.\n\nThis affects carriers applying for numbers and, indirectly, businesses and consumers through potential pass‑through costs, formalising cost recovery for numbering administration and creating a marketplace for premium numbers."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-numbering-charges-allocation-charge-determination-2025/documents"}}