Ofcom, the telecom regulator, issued a consultation to the VoIP service providers asking them to provide access of the emergency services to its customers using 999. Generally all standard PSTN lines get access of emergency services through 999 while such services were offered to only a small section of VoIP users by the VoIP operators till date.

There are two types of VoIP users presently in UK - those who make calls to other VoIP users (which are usually free) and those who can make VoIP calls to standard phones or mobiles as they have subscribed to any VoIP service providers. Ofcom's consultation, however, confines to only the paid VoIP services which give access to landline and mobile numbers. Free VoIP services need not give the customers access to emergency numbers as per Ofcom's notification.

Ofcom had already issued similar consultations in the past with an aim to regulate VoIP services in UK. Accordingly, VoIP operators have been instructed to inform the customers over 999 services and to increase the availability of 999 to more customers.

It is revealed from the survey, the use of VoIP has been increasing significantly during last two years. Accordingly, one-tenths of UK households used VoIP in the last quarter of 2006, compared to 5% in the last quarter of 2005. As VoIP service and technolgoy are making tremendous advancements, many people like to get introduced into VoIP telephony or many of the existing VoIP users look for a complete replacement of standard telephone equipment with VoIP. In this scenario, Ofcom's consultation to VoIP providers is very relevant and VoIP customers will certainly be benefited from it.