Help - Telecom block all VOIP calls in.

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puggy

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#26126 12-Sep-2008 13:56

HELP Telecom donot allow their customers to call VOIP land lines. We have one with Skype going to 09 area code and anyone in the country can call us except for Telecom customers. Anyone know how to fix this problem or who to talk to at Telecom as the help desk just say this is not their isuue as they donot allow customers to call VOIP numbers. Even orcon ones. So why can I call it from my Vodafone cell and landline fine. If Telecom are blocking calls to VOIP phones isn't that anti competitive behavior. Are they allowed to do that just because you buy your service through someone else? Any help much appriciated and I will reply to any questions, where anyone tries to help me.

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#164003 12-Sep-2008 14:48

UPDATE - Finally got hold of Telecom wholesale and they have said they are not allowed to block certain numbers and were not aware they were. Has only taken a week of calling Telecom and arguing with the support desk that today they finally decied to look into it.

sbiddle

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#164005 12-Sep-2008 14:50

What number range are you trying to call?

The issue is a complex one - each telco needs to have number ranges enabled before calls can connect. There have been issues with Skype in the past because they don't actually own the numbers, they blong to a company in Australia who then onsold them to Skype.

Telecom aren't blocking VoIP calls - they are obviously blocking calls to a specific number range that Skype uses, I'm guessing because they are unaware this number range is in use. There is a process carriers have to go through to advise other carriers of number ranges when they go live, either Telecom have misses this or Skype (via the company in Australia who actually owns the numbers) may not have followed the rules.

puggy

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#164007 12-Sep-2008 14:54

my number 09 889 4xxx has worked for ages then suddenly stopped about a week ago i am guessing.

Mod Edit : SB - removed last 3 digits of phone number.

cisconz

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#164058 12-Sep-2008 17:54

puggy: my number 09 889 4xxx has worked for ages then suddenly stopped about a week ago i am guessing.

WxC will not switch calls to the 09 889 range as it does not conform to the NZ telephone standards.
Obviously Telecom have decided this aswell. I would assume it won't be too long till other carriers stop aswell.
The only way around this is to have the company in Australia conform to the standards which includes number portability.

As far as i know that is the only thing in their way at the moment

Hmmmm

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#164070 12-Sep-2008 18:21

09 889 xxxx is allocated to Symbio networks (who Skype buy their numbers from) and is a valid number range.

puggy

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#164147 13-Sep-2008 08:33

The strange part is it has worked for such a long time. We also have a 0800 that has been supplied by Vodafone which comes through to my cell or to a VOIP phone system which Telecom also blocked about 6 months ago. Only Telecom network clients could not call but since I pay alot for the 0800 system I have Vodafone got that fixed in about a week and said that it was a Telecom issue. I really can't believe Telecom are allowed to block numbers like that. These are both business numbers and have cost me alot of money when they are down and it really pisses me off that Telecom can do this when other telcos don't. I look forward to their reply next week about the Skype number as I have talked with Skype help desk and they have said they have an arrangement in place that all numbers they sell should work fine and that its a Telecom issue.

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sbiddle

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#164150 13-Sep-2008 08:46

While I'm not going to defend Telecom here and say it's not a Telecom issue I think you have to be very careful blaming Telecom for the problems when there is a chance it's not their problem.

Skype don't own their numbers - they simply rent them off an Australian company (Symbio Networks) and if you are to believe some providers Skype should not even legally be using the numbers as they fail to comply with the NAD regulations regarding number allocation and usage in New Zealand. To be completely honest using a Skype number for a business isn't a smart move, since Skype don't own their numbers suddenly one day you could find they don't work (as Skype users elsewhere in the world have discovered over recent years) and there is also no way to port your number between providers.

ajhphd

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#164349 14-Sep-2008 16:19

I have had similar issues with calls not being connected through some providers after purchasing a 1-month trial of a Skype subscription package. (SkypeIn number (09-8894XXX) and free calls to NZ landlines). I also will be interested in the response from Telecom.

Providers who can ring my SkypeIn number
SIP phone from Pennytel in Australia
Vodafone mobile
Hamilton Telecom landline with TelstraClear tolls

Providers who cannot ring my SkypeIn number
VFX by World Exchange
Auckland Telecom landline with TelstraClear tolls (to be confirmed)
Auckland Telecom landline with Telecom tolls (worked three days ago but not now)

The results do not seem to be consistent by provider. Could it be an function of the exchange the caller is connected to? Or is it that free local calls to Skype numbers are not allowed, but toll calls to the numbers are permitted since the toll provider would get some revenue?

I would prefer to use my SIP softphone but I cannot get it to connect through my university's proxy server whereas Skype does get through.

old3eyes

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#164584 15-Sep-2008 18:48

Looks like Orcon doesn't switch them either..

Regards,

Old3eyes

sbiddle

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#164589 15-Sep-2008 19:08

I've heard today from a source (I won't name the telco they work for because it's not an official comment) that the problem lies solely with Symbio networks (who Skype lease the numbers off). There was some speculation that Symbio may be in breach of the NAD regulations regarding number usage and may have been subject to a complaint.

Hopefully we can get an official comment from somebody as to why this is happening. Has anybody contacted Skype and received an official response from them at all?

jpollock

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#164748 16-Sep-2008 10:48

I just had a quick read of the number allocation rules document, isn't the "Personal Number Service" range intended for this type of service?

070XYZ

http://www.nad.org.nz/downloads.php

A quick read of the NAD... I wish there was a change history for the document, it would be interesting to see what has changed in the last year.

A quick browse seems to indicate that the rules only apply to new blocks, not existing ones. But then, I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not entirely sure what

"5.4 Number allocations existing as at the date of this Deed shall remain in effect,
subject to this Deed.",

means considering that all the requirements are stated as "principles", without the standard "should/shall/must/may" language I'm used to seeing in standards documents.

I guess this paragraph clarifies things a bit:

3.9 The withdrawal of a Party from this Deed by written notice in accordance with
clause 3.8 shall not:

(b) affect any allocations of numbers made before the date of such
withdrawal takes effect.

However, I was interested to see that the allocation rules say that while you may have an allocation, that doesn't entitle you to have the number routed...

Puggy, have you gone to the disputes tribunal yet? That might scare up a response.

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sdb

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#164768 16-Sep-2008 11:43

spent lots of time hunting around. Apparently both Skype and telecom are aware of this problem...

http://heartbeat.skype.com/2008/09/auckland_area_online_numbers_a.html
http://heartbeat.skype.com/
http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=191601&st=20

just hope that means it will get fixed

jpollock

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#164771 16-Sep-2008 11:56

Skype is saying it's a problem at Telecom? The rumours here are that it's a contract, not a technical problem, and that the disconnection is intentional on the part of TNZ/WxC/others.

Let the finger pointing begin!

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puggy

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#164778 16-Sep-2008 12:03

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the replys, still no word from Telecom or Skype. Have sent Skype another support request hoping to get more out of them other than they think its a Telecom issue as all other networks are working fine and they have an agreement with Telecomso it should work. Not very helpful but at least more helpful than Telecom have been. Telecom wholesale last week (Thursday) said they have a fair idea of what the issue is but have not got back to me yet even after chasing them up. Can't really say much about Telecom's communcation here but I hope they are still looking into it, hence the reasion why I won't deal with them.

Luckily my 0800 number through VF is working fine so long as the iPhone would stop dropping calls... and we will wait and see if the Skype number suddenly starts working or if anyone owns up, to it being there fault. Will post any replys from either company.

jmosen

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#164838 16-Sep-2008 15:37

I'm also experiencing these problems with a 09-889-xxxx number. I have a Christchurch number that is working fine.

My partner has a SkypeIn number in Auckland, 09-914-xxxx and Telecom is connecting to that one OK.

Jonathan

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