New measures are to be introduced to cut the costs for businesses and charities offering 1800 numbers to users of their services. Calls to 1800 numbers are free to the caller but, for business and organisations who offer services and helplines over 1800 numbers, it has been very costly to provide such services on 1800 numbers. The costs of providing services on 1800 numbers are due, in part, to high operator-to-operator charges levied by telephone network operators. The rates comprise a significant part of the costs charged to organisations using 1800 numbers and had previously been as high as 34 cent per minute. He added: “ComReg has undertaken an extensive analysis of non-geographic numbers [NGNs], including 1800 numbers, which showed that an estimated 44 per cent of organisations would consider using NGNs in future if the organisation costs reduced.

Source: The Irish Times January 20, 2020 13:53 UTC