Statement published 22 April 2025
Ofcom is the administrator of UK telephone numbers, which we allocate to mobile operators, who create Global Titles from some of these numbers. These Global Titles are used to send and receive signals that help locate and connect mobile phone users to networks and to one another and they support the provision of mobile services.
However, in the wrong hands, the access to the global mobile signalling system enabled by Global Titles can be misused. For example, bad actors may try and intercept messages and calls, disrupt the operation of networks and track the location of users of other networks.
This statement sets out our decisions to:
- ban leasing of Global Titles to third parties by operators that hold UK mobile numbers;
- ban third parties from creating or using Global Titles from sub-allocated numbers;
- publish new guidance for number range holders on their responsibilities to prevent misuse of their Global Titles and to strengthen our rules to prohibit the misuse of Global Titles by any operator that holds UK mobile numbers; and
- strengthen our rules to prohibit the creation and use of Global Titles from numbers not allocated for use.
These decisions are designed to significantly reduce malicious signalling from UK Global Titles, thereby providing material benefits to UK and international citizens. They will also enhance the transparency and accountability of operators that use Global Titles.
Implementation
The ban on entering new Global Title leasing arrangements takes effect immediately. We have also immediately banned any new creation or use of GTs from sub-allocated numbers.
The new guidance for number range holders on their responsibilities to prevent misuse of their Global Titles takes effect immediately.
For existing Global Title leasing arrangements, or any existing use of Global Titles that have already been created from sub-allocated numbers, the bans will come into force on 22 April 2026. This will give legitimate businesses who currently lease Global Titles from mobile networks, or use Global Titles from sub-allocated numbers, time to make alternative arrangements.
By exception, the existing leasing of Global Titles for two specific uses will be able to continue until 22 October 2026. This is because of the particular challenges of transitioning to alternative arrangements and because we have no evidence of misuse of the relevant Global Titles.