Licensing & Services

Communications service providers can apply for short codes and numbering allocations, subject to the applicant having notified ComReg in connection with a General Authorisation or having been deemed to be already authorised under the Authorisation Regulations. Until recently, most types of numbers and codes could only be issued by ComReg to fixed or mobile telephony network operators, but some may now also be made available to other types of Publicly Available Telephone Service providers (PATS). A PATS is a category of operator that – broadly speaking - provides telecommunications services equivalent to PSTN operators, though not necessarily based on switched operation. Certain VoIP operators which qualify as Electronic Communication Services (ECS) but not as PATS may now also be eligible to receive numbers for their customers, in accordance with ComReg document 04/103 “VoIP services in Ireland: Numbering and related issues”. Furthermore, in certain specific cases short codes can be issued to relevant service providers (e.g. Directory Access codes and premium SMS short codes). Other service providers will continue to receive numbers and codes from their network operators.

ComReg administers the following major numbering resources:

• Geographic Numbers
• Non-Geographic Numbers 
• Short Codes
• Mobile Numbers
• Routing codes
• Premium SMS Short Codes
• Short Codes for EU Harmonised Services of Social Value

Details of the services that may be provided using these and other numbering resources, together with their conditions of usage, may be found in the National Numbering Conventions (currently ComReg 11/17). Undertakings with numbering allocations are required to abide by these Conventions and ComReg strongly encourages applicants to familiarise themselves with this document. Applications to ComReg for numbers or codes must be made using the procedures and forms included in ComReg’s Numbering Applications document (currently ComReg 11/18).