Numbering

Numbering refers to the numbers, short numbers, identification codes, and prefixes defined in the Estonian Numbering Plan.

The Estonian Numbering Plan sets out the location in the numbering space of numbers, short numbers, identification codes and prefixes necessary for the provision of a communications service or other service through that service, their length requirements, intended use, and dialing procedures, as well as prefixes for services within user groups.

As defined in the International Telecommunication Union Recommendation E.164, a number is a decimal number used to provide a communication service or other service through a communication service. Numbers are classified according to their intended use as follows:

  • telephone numbers;
  • mobile telephone numbers;
  • 800 service numbers (freephone service numbers);
  • 900 service numbers (premium rate service numbers);
  • 901 service numbers (data communication service numbers);
  • M2M mobile telephone numbers (machine-to-machine communication numbers);
  • e-fax service numbers;
  • personal numbers (communication service number selected by customer)

A short number is a three- to five-digit number used to provide a communications service or other service, allowing the user to dial the number in a simplified way.

An identification code is a combination of digits used to organize the use of the telecommunications network or parts thereof and distinguish a telecommunications operator to provide a telecommunications service.

A prefix is a combination of digits that enables a communication service provider to organize a communication network or parts thereof.

The following legislation governs the use of numbering:

To use the numbering, you must apply for a numbering license from the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.

Numbering license

A numbering license is an authorization to use numbering.

You need to apply for a numbering license if you want to use the numbers described in the Estonian numbering plan (telephone numbers, mobile telephone numbers, M2M mobile telephone numbers, 800 service numbers, 900 service numbers, 901 service numbers, e-fax numbers, personal numbers), short numbers and identification codes for the provision of a communications service or other service through a communications service.

Numbering licenses issued for the use of numbers shall be quantity-based, i.e., based on the quantity of numbers. Numbering licenses issued for short numbers and identification codes shall be individual number-based.

You do not need to apply for a numbering license to use prefixes.

A numbering license entitles the user to use the numbering to provide a service:

  1. the quantity of numbers indicated on the numbering license, to book individual numbers and arrange for their use;
  2. the short number or identification code indicated on the numbering license and arrange for  its use.

To obtain a numbering license, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

  • the applicant must be a self-employed or legal person, an undertaking, an institution, or an organization;
  • when applying for a numbering license for the use of telephone and mobile numbers and identification codes, the applicant must be registered as a telecommunications operator, i.e., the applicant must have submitted a notice on commencement of economic activity to the Register of Economic Activities;
  • the applicant has paid the state fee.

To obtain a numbering license, you must apply an application and, if necessary, the following supporting documents:

Communications undertakings applying for the first time for a quantity-based numbering license shall be required to submit with application a description of how call dialing or access to the booked number or the communications service or other service provided through it will be ensured;

  • A letter of authority confirming the authorized person to make the application;
  • A letter of authority by which the holder of the numbering license designates a representative (contact person) whom he authorizes to access the numbering management database to book, release, and carry out number portability operations.

You can apply:

  • by logging into the register of economic activities via the state portal (the service requires authentication via ID-card, mobile-ID, Smart-ID, or eID);
  • by digital signature to the e-mail address [email protected];
  • by mail to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority at Endla 10a, 10122 Tallinn.

The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority will issue a numbering license within ten working days from the date of applying if the state fee has been paid. If the application's information is incomplete, the applicant will be contacted by e-mail or telephone within three days of applying. Once the deficiencies have been rectified, the numbering license will be issued within ten working days. The applicant will be informed by e-mail when the numbering license is issued.

The numbering license is an electronic document. The decision to grant a numbering license and the numbering license conditions shall be published in the Register of Economic Activities within ten working days of the numbering license being granted at the latest. A numbering license shall be granted for one year.

After issuing a quantity-based numbering license, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority will open access to the Numbering Management Database  for the number holder to book specific numbers. Number booking is the marking of an individual number in the database, which allows the holder of the numbering license to use the number booked.

After booking the numbers, the holder of the numbering license shall, where appropriate, conclude interconnection agreements with the communication operators from whose networks it wishes to ensure the availability of the numbers.

Upon expiry of the numbering license, its holder shall also be obliged to immediately cease providing the service and terminate the interconnection contracts with the communication operators.

To extend the validity of a numbering license, its holder must apply for an extension of the license to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority no later than 20 days before the numbering license expiry and pay the state fee.

The Authority shall decide on the renewal or non-renewal of a license no later than three working days before the valid numbering license expiry date. Numbering license shall be renewed every year.

In the event of renewal, all the conditions of the license shall remain in force.

Modification of a numbering license means a change in the quantity of numbers authorized to be used. The amount of numbers can be increased at any time. The amount of numbers can be reduced once a year with the renewal of the license.

To amend a numbering license, its holder must apply for a modification of the license to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority and pay a proportionate fee for the numbers to be added for the full months remaining until the expiry of the numbering license. The period of validity of the license shall not be affected by the amendment of the numbering license.

You can search for numbers in use HERE 

A premium rate content service may be provided via short numbers or 900-series service numbers.

To use a premium rate service number, after the numbering license has been issued, service contracts must be concluded with the telecommunications operators from whose networks the service number's dialing is to be guaranteed. The service contract will set out the special tariff (the cost of the call or the price per minute), the billing arrangements, and other terms and conditions for the service provision. 

The premium rate service numbers are for national use only. It is not possible to call from abroad. A customer of a foreign telecoms operator in Estonia can call Estonian service numbers fixed in roaming agreements between operators, provided that his home operator allows the call and by the price list set by the home operator.

The number holder using a short number or 900-series service number to provide a premium rate content service must arrange for automated notification of the content price to the caller within 10 seconds immediately before delivering the content service. During the notification period, it shall not be permissible to apply the content service charge.

The requirement to provide a price announcement need not apply in the case of a live media voting, contest, consumer game, or fund-raising activity where the price is directly communicated to the caller together with the service number via the same media.

An undertaking which receives notifications, declarations of intent, or other communications relating to the performance of a contract from its customers utilizing a short  number or a service number may not, according to Section 28¹(3) of the Law of Obligations Act (LOA), charge the consumer an additional fee for the call. Agreements deviating from this are void under section 28¹(4) of the LOA. When organizing its service, the operator, in cooperation with the telecommunications operator, must ensure that the consumer called on a contractual matter is provided with a call at the basic tariff or free of charge. The basic tariff is to be understood as the charge for making a call to a ordinary fix or mobile telephone.

A harmonized service number with social value is a six-digit, pan-European harmonized short number (HESC) in the 116 numbering range, which is included in the list of specific numbers in the Annex to Commission Decision 2007/116/EC of the European Communities (notified under document number C(2007) 249) and which may be used for the provision of an identified service with social value.

For numbering licenses for a shortcode in the 116 numbering range, an application for numbering licenses and an annex to the application must be submitted to the Authority. Harmonized Europe-wide short numbers are exempted from the state fee. 

The Numbering Management Database (NBA) is a database for numbering plan management, number booking, user rights management, and number portability operations.

Access rights to the numbering management database shall be granted to the NBA contact person(s) indicated in the application for numbering authorisation after the numbering license has been granted. To add or remove NBA users, the representative of the numbering license holder shall submit a letter of attorney to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.

Numbering Management Database (access for numbering license holders only) 

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Last updated: 26.04.2021