Having submitted the overall most attractive bid at the tender announced by the NMHH in late 2013, Invitel Távközlési Zrt. has been selected as the future provider of national directory assistance. In line with the European Union’s regulatory trends aimed at the phasing out of three-digit call numbers, the number for directory assistance is now being changed. According to the plans, the Authority is set to revoke the licence for the number 198 by 30 September 2014, and those for the numbers 197 and 199 by 31 December 2014.

The Authority has designated that 198, the call number hitherto used for national directory assistance, be replaced by 11-800, effective as of 1 October 2014.

Starting 1 October 2014, the universal directory assistance service will be available to all fixed and mobile subscribers by calling 11-800, regardless of the domestic carrier network calls are originated from. Under a draft NMHH Decree, those dialling the currently used number 198 would also hear a recorded message as a reminder of the switch.

According to the pertaining NMHH Decree — since effective EU regulations stipulate that directory assistance is to be reviewed at regular intervals —, the contract has now been signed for a term of three years.  Once the contract takes effect on 1 August 2014, Invitel will start collecting available subscriber data from other telecommunications providers and, for quality service purposes, will update relevant databases by the applicable deadline.