Global local number

A method for providing communications between (i) subscribers of a plurality of telephone networks in a plurality of geographical areas and (ii) TP users of a telecommunications provider (TP) network, the method comprising:

• (a) assigning telephone numbers in a block of one or more telephone numbers in international format to the TP users, wherein the telephone numbers in international format are without a country assignment;
• and
• (b) arranging for each telephone network to process telephone calls from its subscribers to TP users as domestic calls, independent of the geographical area in which the TP users are located, such that, when a first subscriber of a first telephone network in a first geographical area makes a non-TP telephone call to a first TP user:
• the non-TP telephone call from the first subscriber is routed by the first telephone network to a telephone/TP interface network as a domestic call;
• the interface network converts the non-TP telephone call into a TP call and routes the TP call to the TP network;
• and
• the TP network routes the TP call to the TP user.