IPND checklist for CSPs

1. Read and understand the IPND Manager’s information pack at telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/ipnd.

IPND obligations are contained in Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Telecommunications Act 1997 and in the IPND Code.

2. Register with the IPND Manager, Telstra, to provide data to the IPND.

Go to telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/ipnd to register.
- A third party can provide data on your behalf but all CSPs must still register with the IPND Manager. Responsibility for the quality of your customer data rests with you as the CSP.
The IPND Manager will give you a CSP code (and a data provider code if you are providing your own data), which must be used with each customer record uploaded to the IPND.

Telstra manages the IPND and all technical requirements for receiving data. The ACMA does not accept data for the IPND.

3. Follow the IPND Manager’s rules for data uploads.

Data and files are required in certain formats. Check the:
- IPND technical requirements
- IPND industry code (C555:2020)
- IPND data industry guideline (G619:2017).
Make sure you test any changes to your IPND upload systems before the changes are deployed – this can be done in the IPND user test environment.

4. Make sure you give information that is accurate and provided in the correct format.

Guidance on populating fields is in the IPND technical requirements and the IPND data industry guideline – certain fields are mandatory.
Use address validation software to ensure accurate information is provided to the IPND.
You must obtain a complete extract of your IPND data from the IPND Manager (or via your third-party data provider) at least once every 6 months to reconcile against information in your own systems. Help is in the IPND guidance note.

5. Check the corresponding error file after uploading customer data.

When a data file is uploaded to the IPND, the IPND Manager sends the data provider a corresponding error file. Checking the error file is the only way to see if your file and all records were successfully uploaded. Use the IPND guidance note to interpret the information in error files.
- ‘Soft errors’ include invalid or missing data – see the IPND technical requirements.
- ‘Hard errors’ mean that your file, or a record in the file, will not have uploaded to the IPND.
Investigate all errors and upload corrected data if needed within:
- 1 business day for hard errors
- 2 business days for soft errors.
Contact the IPND Manager or IPND application support for assistance if you have problems uploading the correct data.

Take action when data users (such as the emergency call person or authorised public number directory publishers) flag that particular IPND records may have errors.

6. Update your IPND data by the next business day.

For new customers or changes to existing customer data, updates to the IPND are required by the end of the next business day.

Educate your customers about keeping their personal information up to date. A change of address is particularly critical for emergency service purposes.

7. Record each customer’s choice for a listed or unlisted (private/silent) number.

You must give customers a choice of either a listed or unlisted (private/silent number).
Make sure your customers know how their personal information in the IPND may be used and that having a listed number will mean their name and address will be published in authorised public number directories (as well as the White Pages directory).

8. Be careful not to mistakenly overwrite IPND data of other CSPs.

Check Changed Data Provider reports (available on the first day of each month in your download directory) for information about lost and gained services during the previous month, to ensure accidental overwriting has not occurred.
Correct any affected IPND records or advise the other telco if you have inadvertently overwritten their data within 7 days. Contact details of all CSPs and data providers are made available by the IPND Manager every month or on request.

Incorrectly overwritten data can have serious consequences.

Pay extra attention when you’re uploading or refreshing bulk records to the IPND or taking action to correct discrepancies found when reconciling data.

9. Notify the IPND Manager if your contact details or data provision arrangements change.

Keep your contact and organisational details (such as mergers, acquisitions, or closures) current with the IPND Manager to ensure you get information about IPND updates, planned or unplanned outages and other important changes.
Advise the IPND Manager of any changes to your data provision arrangements so they can provide a new CSP and data provider code combination.

10. Notify the IPND Manager before you upload a large amount of information.

A maximum of 10 files per day should be uploaded. A single file should not exceed 100,000 records.

Large amounts of data being uploaded simultaneously can have an impact on IPND data users, such as public number directory publishers.

More information

For technical questions about uploading data to the IPND – go to IPND application support.
For general IPND questions – email the IPND Manager mailbox at ipnd.manager@team.telstra.com.
View the ACMA’s information about the IPND.
For legislative and regulatory obligation questions – email the ACMA at ipnd@acma.gov.au.