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Telecom - Secretary General Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Gatineau,  21 July 2026

Reference: 8621-C12-01/08 

BY EMAIL

Distribution List

Subject: Approval of the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering Report CNRE160C - TBP Readiness Affirmation Form and Recommendations to Facilitate the Rollout of Thousands-Block Pooling

We are writing to inform you of the Commission’s decision regarding CNRE160C – TBP Readiness Affirmation Form and Recommendations to Facilitate the Rollout of Thousands-Block Pooling. Telephone numbers are a finite resource and a key building block at the heart of our modern communications system. Due to the emergence of many new services in recent years (such as machine-to-machine communications and Internet of Things applications), and the continued increase in cellphone use, there is a need to conserve numbering resources in Canada.

In report CNRE160C, the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) proposed measures to safeguard the integrity and reliability of the Canadian public switched telephone network as Canada transitions to a thousand-block pooling (TBP) environment.

The first exchanges are scheduled to transition to TBP on 28 July 2026. The Commission therefore considers it appropriate to give sufficient notice to affected parties to provide regulatory certainty and support timely implementation of the CSCN’s recommendations. Accordingly, the Commission hereby notifies affected parties that it approves the recommendations set out in report CNRE160C, with reasons to follow. The Commission therefore directs:

  1. All TSPs (carriers and resellers) that perform LNP database queries for call routing to ensure that such queries are performed against TBP‑ready LNP databases no later than 28 July 2026;
  2. All carriers to complete and file with the CNA, within 30 days following the first Initial Implementation Meeting relevant to them as set out in the schedule developed by the CSCN, the affirmation contained in the attachment to CNRE160C, to confirm:
    1. their processing of LNP telephone number disconnect notifications (i.e., Snapbacks) operates correctly in a TBP environment such that double telephone number assignments can be avoided;
    2. the intake into inventory of a contaminated thousands-block assigned by the CNA will not result in ported telephone numbers being placed into inventory, thereby avoiding double telephone number assignments;
    3. LNP database queries are performed against databases configured to receive Thousands-Block records; and
    4. they have performed sufficient production-level testing and have appropriate processes in place to return blocks in accordance with the Canadian Thousands-Block and CO Code Assignment Guideline .
  3. The CNA to withhold the issuance of additional geographic number resources to, and refuse to accept the return of thousands-blocks from, any carrier operating in pooled exchange areas that has not provided an affirmation in the prescribed form confirming TBP readiness, including the completion of sufficient production-level testing and establishment of appropriate block return processes.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Étienne Robelin, Manager, Telecommunications, at Etienne.Robelin@crtc.gc.ca or 819‑712‑0199.

Sincerely,

Marc Morin
Secretary General and Executive Vice-President

CC:      Suneil Kanjeekal, Director, Telecommunications, CRTC, Suneil.Kanjeekal@crtc.gc.ca
Étienne Robelin, Manager, Telecommunications, CRTC, Etienne.Robelin@crtc.gc.ca

Attachment (1) – Distribution list

Attachment

Distribution List

Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers
Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers
Wireless Carriers
Resellers of Telecommunications Services

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