Mandate and Quality Policy


The mandate of the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) is to provide a numbering administration service to the Canadian telecommunications industry under contract to the Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium Inc. (CNAC). The administration of Canadian numbering resources is under the regulatory oversight of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Numbering resources are administered in accordance with CRTC-approved guidelines including the Canadian Central Office Code Assignment Guideline and applicable CRTC Telecom Decisions, Orders, and Regulatory Policies. CNA functions include Canadian numbering resource administration, the processing of applications for North American Numbering Plan (NANP) resources and other telecommunications numbering resources. The CNA also chairs and is the secretary for the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) and the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) Ad Hoc Relief Planning Committees (RPCs).

Canada is part of Country Code 1 and participates in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) with the USA and 18 Caribbean nations. The NANP structure consists of a single digit Country Code followed by a 10-digit number containing a 3-digit Numbering Plan Area (called an NPA or Area code), a 3-digit Central Office (CO) Code, and a 4-digit Line Number. The format is NXX-NXX-XXXX where N = 2 to 9 and X = 0 to 9 (e.g., the CNA number is 1-613-702-0016 where 1 is the Country Code, 613 is the NPA, 702 is the CO Code, and 0016 is the Line Number – see below for a diagram of the parts of a 10-digit North American telephone number). The "N" format permits the use of 0 and 1 for special dialling purposes (e.g., for operator assisted and long-distance calling).

10-digit Number Format

COMsolve CNA Division Quality Policy

The COMsolve CNA division is committed to meeting the needs of its customers for numbering administration services. Priority is placed on: (a) quality and timeliness of numbering administration services; and (b) the safeguarding (i.e., maintaining the data integrity) of confidential information provided by code applicants, code holders and service users.

The COMsolve CNA division is also committed to future quality improvements through (a) its participation in Canadian industry stakeholder groups including the Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering (CSCN) and CNAC; and (b) internal reviews. Using these external inputs and internal reviews, the COMsolve CNA division is committed to the continual improvement of the Quality Management System.


CNA Services

CSCN Secretary

The CNA will perform the functions of the CSCN Secretary in accordance with the CSCN Adjunct to the CISC Administrative Guidelines including:


CNA Role in North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA)-Administered Resources

The CNA will perform the following functions with respect to the NANP numbering resources which are administered by the NANP Administrator:


Administration of Non-NANPA Administrated Numbering Resources

The CNA will perform the following numbering administration functions:

  • receive, validate, process requests and maintain assignment records for NPA 600 NXX codes. In addition, coordinate with iconectiv for routing record maintenance

Administration of Numbering Resources and NPA Relief Planning

The CNA will perform numbering resource administration functions in accordance with the applicable assignment guideline for geographic and non-geographic NPAs assigned for use in Canada including NPA relief planning functions.

Other CNA functions include:

  • provide reports to CSCN on various numbering topics upon request
  • provide clarification to interested parties with respect to the application of numbering resource guidelines applicable in Canada
  • investigate numbering assignment and administration issues as necessary
  • seek resolution, as necessary, from CSCN of numbering assignment and administration issues
  • liaise with CRTC staff regarding numbering issues
  • participate in and provide informational support to the CSCN contribution development teams on request
  • liaise and coordinating the CNA's activities with the NANPA to ensure effective and efficient use of NANP resources in Canada;
  • establish and maintain relationships with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the CRTC
  • develop and maintain knowledge of numbering activities at the INC and assess the impacts of any INC activities on Canadian numbering and CNA functions
  • respond to requests from participants in the Canadian telecommunications industry, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the CRTC and the media about Canadian numbering resources and their administration
  • is the primary repository for numbering information for the Canadian telecommunications industry

The role of the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) is being performed by COMsolve Inc. under contract with Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium Inc. (CNAC). The CNAC Privacy Policy and the www.cnac.ca Website Terms of Use may be found using the following links:
Privacy Policy      Website Terms of Use


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