PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR SHORT CODES

1.0         BACKGROUND

Short codes are telephone numbers with fewer digits than the standard
national significant and are dialled without a national destination code.
They are commonly used to access specific services.

 

According to the Uganda National Numbering Plan, short codes can either
be three (3) or four (4) digits long. The short codes that have been
categorized under the Uganda National Numbering Plan are summarized in
Table 1 below;

Table 1 : SHOWING THE DIFFERENT SHORT CODE RANGES

SHORT CODE

APPLICATION

ELABORATION

LICENCE FEE

110 - 119

Emergency
Services and
Safety Services

 

The number must
be common to all
networks for the
particular service

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

120 – 129

 

Customer Service
enquiries

 

Selected numbers
common to all
networks
depending on
service type

 

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

130 – 139

 

Billing related
enquiries

 

Selected numbers
common to all
networks
depending on
service type

 

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

140 – 189

Other Network
Services

 

May be network
dependent. It
caters for those
network services
that may be
defined uniquely
by the respective
operators

 

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

190 – 198

Specially-defined
UCC applications;
e.g., Directory
services

 

For those services
specially defined
by UCC at different
times

 

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

200-298

 

Application /
Information
Service Providers [1] ,
Value Added
Service Providers
and other

For USSD based
services and
applications by
various service
providers

 

Authorisation fee
(US $ 10,000 p.a)
excluding VAT

 

900 – 999

Emergency
Services and
Safety Services
(e.g. 999) and
specially defined
UCC applications

 

The number must
be common to all
networks for the
particular service

 

Exempt from
authorization fees
(However, if the
provider decides to
charge for the
service, they shall
also be required to
pay for the use of
the number)

6000 - 8999

Application /
Information
Service Providers

 

For SMS and MMS
based services and
applications by
various service
providers

Authorisation fee
(US $ 2,000 p.a)
excluding VAT

 

 

Note: Prior to submitting an application to UCC, applicants must ensure that the
planned application and short code applied for can be implemented by the
service provider(s) over whose network the application is to accessed by the
target users.

 

 

 

 

2.0        PROCESSING PROCEDURE

     I.         An application shall be made through the online portal at https://eservices.ucc.co.ug/ and all associated required legal and approvals shall be uploaded (All legal documents should be certified).

 

   II.         Account registration procedure for first-time user

Follow the steps below to submit applications or if already registered, ignore steps a and b:

a.    Click on the link; https://eservices.ucc.co.ug/ or copy paste the link onto your browser address bar,

b.    First time registration - Register your email address and password,

c.    Login in as the applicant with your registered login credentials,

d.    Populate the new short code application form and or renewal application form,

e.    Attach the supporting documents,

f.     Submit the application,

g.    You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt once the application is successfully submitted,

h.   You will receive periodic updates by email and/or through user account updates in the portal on the progress of your application.

 

  III.         An application shall be reviewed and if found to be eligible for the short code applied for, the applicant shall be invoiced, and the authorisation letter shall be issued after payment of the applicable fees.

 

N.B: UCC shall not involve itself in the commercial arrangements between the assignee and the service/network provider unless consumer interests are compromised.

 

3.0        FEES STRUCTURE

According to the Commission Fees structure, the applicable fees for short codes are summarized in Table 2 below;

SN

Short Codes

Fees in USD per annum (unless stated)

1.     

Short Code application fee

250

2.     

Initial entry fees – One time

1,000

3.     

Range 140 - 189

2,000

4.     

Range 6000 - 8999

2,000

5.     

Range 200 - 298

10,000

 


[1] An information or application provider in this case, shall be one that creates and delivers
informational products to the general consumer through computer-based applications or other electronic services over the infrastructure of a PSP and/or PIP/ or NTO