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Rate center

A rate center in telecommunications refers to a geographic area used by telecom companies to determine the boundaries for local calling, billing, and assigning telephone numbers.

Each rate center represents a specific area within which a particular set of tariffs and regulations apply for telephone calls. 

  • Geographical Boundaries: A rate center is defined by a geographical area, which can be a city, a part of a city, or an area outside a city. Each rate center has a specific name, often based on a city or town name.


  • Local Calling Area: The rate center determines the local calling area for a particular phone number. Calls within the same rate center are typically considered local and are charged at local rates.


  • Telephone Number Allocation: Phone numbers are allocated based on rate centers. Each rate center has its own set of telephone prefixes, which are the first three digits of a seven-digit local telephone number.


  • Long-Distance Billing: Calls to numbers outside the rate center but within the same area code may be billed as long-distance calls, depending on the carrier's tariff plan and the regulatory environment.


  • Impact on Number Portability: In the context of local number portability (LNP), rate centers play a crucial role. Generally, phone numbers can be ported only within the same rate center.

Understanding rate centers is important in the telecommunications industry, particularly for service providers and regulators, as they play a key role in determining how calls are billed and how phone numbers are managed and allocated.

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