IPND Overview

In June 2003, Callpoint secured an ACA tender to conduct the first audit of the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND).  Established in 1998, the IPND is an important central repository of all assigned telephone numbers in Australia.  Callpoint's principal, Brian Beckor, in conjunction with Andrew Simpson (www.telco1.com.au) and Dr David Wynn (www.qyncom.com.au) teamed to conduct the audit.

The ACA's audit focus was address accuracy.  This emphasis was prompted by the needs of Emergency Services Organisations (ESOs) to efficiently deliver essential community services.  Given that telecoms providers are required by license condition to submit customer details to the IPND (including address and telephone number), and that these details are made available to ESOs (and approved others) it becomes clear that IPND address accuracy is important to the efficient delivery of essential emergency services.  This accuracy dependence is heightened by the fact that many ESO operational processes require that the Latitude-Longitude location of an emergency be determined prior to emergency vehicle dispatch.

In other words, through the astute deployment of geospatial/ address validation tools (amongst other tactics), telcos can not only gain internal business benefits but also contribute towards the broader welfare of their customers - especially when precious seconds make a big difference.

Also in this section:
Address Accuracy overview

Address Accuracy Lessons:
Lesson 1      Lesson 2      Lesson 3      Lesson 4

For further details, please visit:
www.aca.gov.au/aca_home/publications/reports/reports/performance/2002-03/chap11.pdf (Page 8)

www.telstra.com.au/ipnd

Callpoint thanks the ACA for permission to make this resource public.

Post 2003 Developments

The following are noted developments:

• ACMA adopted Callpoint's recommendation that post 2003 audits be based on G-NAF as the authoritative address database

•A number of Callpoint's other recommendations were based on first hand interviews with Police, Fire and Ambulance services, who lamented the cost to the community of inaccurate addresses

Some of the address accuracy lessons gained were then reflected back into Callpoint's G-NAF based geocoder.  This geocoder is a core component of Callpoint AQ Pro®, and also forms the basis for Callpoint's proxy address accuracy audits.