Conduit allocated directory enquiry number for the UK market

Conduit, has announced that it has been provisionally allocated 11-88-99 for directory enquiries following the Oftel Directory Enquiry Lottery procedure.

The decision by Oftel, the British Telecommunication Regulator, means that BT's monopoly of the market, and the number 192, will no longer exist. The number allocation process should mean that there is now an equal competitive environment for directory enquiry companies in the UK.

Conduit is one of the largest independent enquiry services providers in Europe, providing directory enquiry services in Ireland, Austria and Switzerland. The company is new to the UK directory enquiry market.

It currently provides services under long-term agreements with several UK telecommunications companies. Conduit is hoping to gain a substantial slice of BT's current market share.

It is estimated that the UK directory enquiry market exceeds 700 million calls annually and is worth in excess of £300m (€473m).

The full deregulation process will take effect in October, 2002.