Publicly Available Telephone Services

Publicly Available Telephone Services or PATS means a service available to the public for originating and receiving national and international calls and access to emergency services through a telephone number or numbers in a national or international telephone numbering plan, and may, where relevant, also include one or more of the following -

• (a) operator assistance,
• (b) directory assistance facilities,
• (c) directories,
• (d) pay telephones,
• (e) service under special terms,
• (f) specific facilities for end-users with a disability or with special social needs, and
• (g) non-geographic services

See also

• Common carrier
• Plain old telephone service