Each Public Number Customer Data (PNCD) record includes the customer’s phone number, name, service and directory addresses, the type of service, whether the service is listed or unlisted in public number directories (online & printed) and details about the CSP who provides the service.
The types of services recorded in the IPND include:
- fixed telephone services;
- mobile phone services;
- VoIP services associated with a telephone number;
- freecall and local rate numbers (including 13 and 1800 numbers); and
- payphone services.
CSPs (who are Data Providers under the IPND Scheme) are legally required to send a PNCD record to the IPND for each service they provide using a public number, and to swiftly correct any errors in or changes to that record. As of February 2023, the IPND contains 129 million connected and disconnected PNCD records.
Important: It is vital that customers and service users provide their service provider with accurate and up-to-date information about their service, as this information can have serious consequences in an emergency or life threatening situation. CSPs as a Data Provider are required to update the records of their customers in the IPND if they are advised of any inaccuracies or in the event of changes to details of the customers service, including service status, location and directory listing preference.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the IPND Manager share arrangements under which data users are authorised or approved to access data in the IPND. Authorised or approved IPND ‘Data Users’ provide a range of ‘critical’ and ‘non-critical’ services to the community and their customers. Critical data users include: the Emergency Call Services (ECS) for Triple Zero (000 and 112) and 106, Emergency Alert system, Emergency Service Organisations (Police, Fire and Ambulance) and national security and law enforcement agencies.
Non-critical users of IPND information include public number directories publishers (which excludes White Pages® directories), directory and operator assistance providers, location dependent carriage service (LDCS) providers and researchers for electoral, health and government policy research. These data users provide a range of services and products to government organisations and the general public that would not be possible or would be much more difficult without the IPND.