GTPS

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The GTPS (Government Telephone Preference Scheme) is a British system for limiting outgoing calls from landlines if the network is overloaded during an emergency. Numbers registered under the GTPS will still be able to make outgoing calls if the service is limited. All telephones will still be able to receive calls.

There are 3 categories of user - the most essential are called Preference Category I, and are limited to 2% of lines of a telephone exchange. According to a British government document [1], they are intended to be limited to "lines vital to the prosecution of war and to national survival". The second category - Preference Category II - are for lines needed for the community and these and Preference Category I are limited in total to 10% of the exchange. All other users are in Category III.[2]

The scheme was established in the 1950s. [3]

A similar scheme limiting mobile telephone access is called ACCOLC.

The GTPS should not be confused with the Telephone Preference Service which is an opt out telephone list funded by the British direct marketing industry. [4]