French telecom regulator Arcep has published a draft decision for public consultation proposing to allow users to keep their fixed phone number when moving to a different area code. Alongside this reform, the document also recommends the introduction of a new category of numbers starting with 090, to enable trials on a new authentication mechanism in the fight against fraud caused by hijacked phone numbers.
Arcep said that the plan to lift geographical restrictions attached to landlines would have clear advantages for both residential and business users. Under the system currently in place in mainland France, the first two digits of every number are allocated based on five main areas of the country, ranging from 01 to 05. In turn, these areas include more specific dialling codes or ZNE (Zones de Numerotation Elementaire), and fixed phone users can port their number only when remaining in the same geographical ZNE.
The regulator plans to reform this system in a two-phase approach. As of 1 January 2020, the market will implement a preliminary change, enabling users to keep their number when they move to a different ZNE but remain within the same 01-05 main area code. From 01 January 2023, the restrictions will be lifted across all the current 412 ZNE dialling codes, enabling users to keep their number regardless of where they move.