Singapore loosens up regulations on directory services

Driven by usage and lifestyle changes.

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) announced that it will be implementing several changes to Directory Services Come 1 April 2014.

Key changes include the removal of the regulatory requirement to provide the residential listing for published directories; the removal of charges for the Number Unlisting Service; and the provision of three free directory enquiries per month for each fixed-line subscriber.

Aside from the above changes, the Fixed-Line Operators are still required to continue to provide the business listing for published directories, although they may publish them in printed or electronic form, said IDA.

Consumers can still use the “Service 100” Directory Enquiry service to request for public residential and business numbers.

IDA said these changes follow the completion of its review of the regulatory requirement for Directory Services, taking into account public feedback received through the public consultation.

The agency's objective of reviewing the regulatory requirement for Directory Services is to determine its continued relevance in view of technology, market and lifestyle changes over the decades since these requirements were first introduced. Statistics show that the collection of the published directories fell by more than 80 per cent over the last five years for both residential and business directories. In 2011, approximately nine per cent of the total subscriber base, or 165,000 subscribers, collected the printed and CD-ROM versions of the directories.

IDA also took into account the changes in consumer behaviour and needs, and how current practices such as the publication of the residential listing may give rise to concerns over disclosure and use of individuals’ personal information.

"While the publication of the residential listing is no longer a regulatory requirement, Fixed-Line Operators may choose to continue providing the residential listing on a voluntary or commercial basis," said IDA.

"However, the operators will have to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act relating to the collection, use, and disclosure of data for individuals. The operators will have to seek their subscribers’ consent to be included in the residential listing when the latter sign up for any fixed-line telephone services," it added.

In view of subscribers’ interest to better protect their personal data and to be in line with the Personal Data Protection Act, IDA will require Fixed-Line Operators to allow their subscribers a one-time free-of-charge Number Unlisting Service so that the subscriber’s information is not available under the Published Directories and the “Service 100” Directory Enquiry service. This requirement will apply to any Directory Services offered by the Fixed-Line Operator, regardless of whether the operators choose to do this on a voluntary/commercial basis, or to meet IDA’s regulatory requirement. The operators may charge a nominal one-time administrative fee for their subscribers’ subsequent listing or unlisting requests.

However, recognising that a small number of consumers may still use the published directories to check for residential numbers occasionally, Fixed-Line Operators are required to offer three free directory enquiries per month to each fixed-line subscriber to further mitigate the impact of the removal of the regulatory requirement to provide the residential listing for published directories. This change will allow each fixed-line subscriber to request for three public fixed-line telephone numbers every month at no charge. Based on IDA’s household survey[6] results on the usage of the printed directories and directory enquiry services, three free directory enquiries per month is sufficient for the average directory user.