nSAPN: Brazil's Numbering Plan Administration System

Why numbering matters for your operation

If you operate STFC, SMP, or any telecommunications service that uses numbering resources in Brazil, nSAPN (New Numbering Plan Administration System) is a mandatory tool in your regulatory routine. It is through this system that you request new numbering ranges, reserve resources, receive assignments, and manage the entire lifecycle of the numbers your company uses.

Numbering resources are finite. Without proper planning, your company may face situations where there are no available numbers to activate new customers or expand to new areas. This directly impacts your revenue and business growth.

The nSAPN is managed by ABR Telecom in its role as EASI (Computerized System Management Entity), as determined by Resolution 709/2019, which approved the General Numbering Regulation (RGN).

Who is required to use nSAPN

The use of nSAPN is mandatory for all providers that use numbering resources. In practice, this includes STFC providers (fixed telephony) that need geographic numbering ranges to assign to their customers. It also includes SMP carriers (mobile telephony), which are major consumers of numbering due to the volume of active lines. SME providers (Specialized Mobile Service, such as trunked radio) and SMGS providers (Global Mobile Satellite Service) must also use the system.

If you are planning to launch a new service that requires numbering or expand to a new region, the first step is to access nSAPN to check availability and start the request process.

How to request numbering: the step-by-step process

The nSAPN manages the entire lifecycle of numbering resources. Understanding each stage helps your regulatory team work more efficiently.

The request is the first step. Your company formalizes the request for new numbering resources through the portal easi.abrtelecom.com.br. You need to present the usage justification, indicating for which service and geographic area the numbers will be used, and wait for analysis and approval by Anatel.

Reservation is an intermediate step that lets you secure the availability of certain resources while awaiting definitive assignment. Reservations have an expiration date, so your team needs to track deadlines to convert to assignment or renew the reservation before it expires.

Assignment is the formal act that grants your company the right to use certain numbering resources. After receiving the assignment, you can activate these resources on your network and make them available to your customers.

Return happens when your company no longer uses certain numbering resources. Returning idle numbering is a regulatory obligation that contributes to the efficiency of the numbering plan. If you hold unused ranges while other providers face scarcity in the same region, this may raise questions from Anatel.

Transfer allows moving resources from one provider to another, something that occurs in mergers, acquisitions, or corporate restructurings.

The EASI portal: your interface with the system

Access to nSAPN is through the portal easi.abrtelecom.com.br. This web interface lets you execute all numbering management processes digitally, without the need for paper documents or manual processes.

On the portal, your team can query available numbering by geographic area, track the status of ongoing requests, generate reports on resources assigned to your company, and submit new requests. The interface was designed for different user profiles, from regulatory analysts to network engineers who need to check which ranges are available for activation.

If your regulatory team does not yet have full command of the EASI portal, invest in training. Familiarity with the system prevents errors in requests, reduces processing time, and ensures your company has the numbering resources it needs when it needs them.

The National Numbering Registry

The heart of nSAPN is the National Numbering Registry, the repository containing all information about the country's numbering resources. For each resource, the registry records the holding provider, the status (available, reserved, assigned, in use), the associated geographic area, and the linked service type.

This registry is continuously fed by the processes executed in nSAPN. Every request, assignment, return, and transfer is recorded, maintaining a complete and auditable history.

For your operation, the National Numbering Registry is the official reference for checking availability, confirming assignments, and ensuring your resources are properly registered. If there are inconsistencies between what the registry shows and what you operate in practice, resolve them immediately to avoid regulatory issues.

Strategic impact on your company

Numbering management has implications that go beyond regulation. If your company is growing fast and does not plan numbering requests in advance, you may face bottlenecks that prevent activating new customers. Brazil has already experienced pressure on numbering resources, such as the migration to the ninth digit for mobile phones, which was necessary to expand SMP numbering capacity.

Furthermore, numbering management impacts other regulatory systems. Number portability depends on accurate information about numbering assignments. Call routing depends on correct knowledge of which numbering ranges belong to which providers in each area. If your numbering records are inconsistent, these processes will be compromised.

Some practical actions for your company: regularly monitor the utilization of assigned numbering ranges, request new resources before reaching maximum capacity, return ranges that are not in use, and keep your regulatory team updated on nSAPN procedures.

Proactive numbering management ensures your operation has the capacity to grow without interruptions. Treating this as a routine administrative task rather than an emergency when numbers run out is what separates well-managed carriers from the rest.

References

• Resolution 709/2019 (General Numbering Regulation): https://informacoes.anatel.gov.br/legislacao/resolucoes/2019/1261-resolucao-709
• Law 9,472/1997 (General Telecommunications Law): https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l9472.htm