154 No. 15 of 2009] Numbering plan Information and Communication Technologies 55. (1) The Minister may, in consultation with the Authority, by statutory instrument, make regulations prescribing a numbering plan for the efficient use and allocation of numbers and to accommodate the varied protocols used and services provided by licensees under this Act. A numbering plan shall consist of a scheme of identification so as to ensure that electronic communications are correctly and efficiently directed to the point of reception for which they are intended. Subject to subsection (8), the Authority shall, in preparing a numbering plan, take account of existing numbering plans or schemes. The numbering plan referred to under subsection (1) shall be non discriminatory. The Authority shall maintain and manage a record of the status of all number ranges, codes and blocks of numbers comprising the plan in a central numbering database system. A holder of an individual licence in respect of a service licence and a holder of an individual licence in respect of a network licence, shall submit to the Authority information on all numbers, including numbers of pre paid subscribers allocated in terms of the licence. The Authority may amend or update a numbering plan as the Authority considers necessary and the licensee shall bear the costs of such amendment or update. (8) Regulations made under subsection (1) shall include matters relating to the fees payable by licensees for the allocation of numbers; the conditions under which a licensee may be required to surrender unused numbers to the Authority for reallocation; (c) the allocation of responsibility between holders of service licences and network licences for the implementation of the numbering plan and number portability toensure effective functionality; ensure access and routing within electronic communications networks; and