Home | Contact | Search | Log in
  


Background


LDC project and 511


For the European support programme of DG TREN of the European Commission, several road operators cooperated in a Long Distance Corridor Demonstrator 2004-2005 to facilitate road users and freight transporters on their long distance travels. In 2005 the Long Distance Corridor project started to investigate the needs and the possibilities for a single Europe-wide short telephone number to get access to voice response systems providing traffic and traveller information. Catalyst of this initiative were the 511 developments in the USA where the telephone number 511 is used in over 30 states to get access to traffic and traveller information.

See also www.deploy511.org


ETTIN Quick Scan


In 2006 the partners within the Long Distance Corridor Project commissioned a Quick Scan to learn what could be the role of the road operator in the provision of such a service. The Dutch company Ars Traffic and Transport Technology carried out the quick scan by means of desktop research, questionnaires and dedicated interviews among road operators and many other stakeholders (service providers, telecom operators) in Europe. In addition, nine comparable developments of techniques for the distribution of transport telematics were studied.

The Quick Scan showed clearly the need for such a common telephone number and a harmonised access to information. Road operators need to be involved in both the introduction and the operational phase of ETTIN. They should be a leading party in the introduction of ETTIN.

It also became clear that a unique European harmonised 116xyz number is a suitable and currently the only realistic candidate for ETTIN.

ETTIN Quick Scan (PDF - 435 kB)


Champions ETTIN Steering Group


Six countries with a strong interest (discovered during the Quick Scan) were approached to become a champion for the continuation of ETTIN. They set out to participate actively to make ETTIN a reality, and formed the ETTIN Steering Group.
This Steering Group is now the formal owner of the initiative and is steering further developments. In 2007, a letter of intent was signed stating the commitment of all participants to support the basic idea of an ETTIN number throughout Europe and that the partner will be active in its own country to enable the available traffic and traveller information to be reached via the unique ETTIN number.

ETTIN SG members:
  • DGT-Spain
  • MEEDDM -France
  • SANEF-France
  • Viasuisse - Swiss
  • Highways Agency - England
  • Rijkswaterstaat - The Netherlands


  • VTT- Finland
    • - Obeserver
  • Traffic Wales - Wales
    • - Observer
Map:

116xyz


Telecom operators, corresponding Ministries and the European Commission have been working for several years to introduce a set of telephone numbers that can be used Europe-wide. In 2007, DG INFSO enabled the reservation of a range of numbers (from 116000 to 116999, shortly called 116xyz) for this purpose. The use of these numbers is mainly intended for services of public interest. The decision, based on Article 10(4) of the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC, obliges EU Member States to reserve, make publicly available and publicise the "116 numbers", but not to assign the numbers to a service provider or actually ensure the provision of the services.

In 2007, a request for a Europe-wide telephone number in the range of 116000 to 116199 was made to the European Commission DG INFSO. The initiative was received very positively, but nevertheless was rejected because the numbers in this range are reserved only for toll-free numbers (no charges for callers are allowed). The European Commission indicated, however, that it will support the ETTIN idea, and that contacts with CEPT should be made in order to find a solution for this.

EC Decision (PDF - 56 kB)


Request for a 116xyz number for ETTIN (PDF - 121 kB)


ETTIN Initiation project


The ETTIN Steering Group is convinced that a solution for a single short European number will be found and decided therefore to continue the ETTIN developments. Moreover, it was considered that demonstrating the ETTIN concept (e.g. in selected countries and in several languages) will strengthen the possibilities for such a European traffic and traveller information phone number.

In February 2008, the ETTIN Steering Group decided to start the ETTIN Initiation project with the aim to develop a demonstrator and to promote further the ETTIN concept.