In a telecoms market where competition should foster freedom of choice for customers, certain practices of the major operators tend to restrict this freedom. Among these practices, the refusal or reluctance to provide essential information, such as the NSN number for Internet lines or SIP identifiers for VoIP telephony, creates major obstacles for customers wishing to change operator

THE NSN NUMBER: ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
The NSN number: essential information

The NSN (Network Subscriber Number) is an essential identifier for xDSL connections. It uniquely identifies an Internet line, and is essential when changing operators to ensure a smooth and rapid transition.

However, many operators are reluctant to provide this information, despite legal obligations to do so. This refusal complicates the portability or migration process, leaving customers in a situation of dependence on their current provider. Without this number, the new provider cannot activate the line, prolonging delays and disrupting the user experience.

SIP IDENTIFIERS: A BARRIER TO CUSTOMER AUTONOMY

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) credentials are crucial for configuring VoIP telephony solutions, whether on a local PBX, IP phone or other equipment. These credentials include :

User name (username).
Password.
SIP server settings.

Some operators refuse to pass these credentials on to customers, citing technical restrictions or internal policies. This practice often forces customers to use hardware imposed by the operator, limiting their freedom of choice and preventing them from integrating their own solutions

A DISGUISED MONOPOLY: THE USE OF IMPOSED SERVICE PROVIDERS

In some cases, the situation is even more restrictive: operators impose a third-party service provider to manage telephony or Internet-related services. This strategy deprives customers of all autonomy and locks them into a model that is both rigid and costly.

For example:

Imposed service providers: The customer must go through a partner certified by the operator for any modification or configuration.
Locked-in hardware: Equipment supplied is often configured to work only with the operator's network.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CUSTOMERS

These practices have several harmful consequences:

Increased dependency: Customers lose control over their technical infrastructure.
Additional costs: additional charges for imposed equipment or services.
Barriers to competition: A barrier to entry for new suppliers and a disadvantage for customers