ST. JOHN'S – Newfoundland and Labrador remain one of the few places in Canada where callers need to only dial seven digits.
On Tuesday, the Telecommunications Alliance said that the introduction of 10-digit dialing and the new area code 879 had been deferred further to a CRTC decision earlier this month plus recent numbering forecasts that indicate that current area code 709 will not reach capacity this year.
Each communications provider in Canada submits regular forecasts of their requirements for numbering resources to the Canadian Numbering Administrator. Factors such as population and economic growth, plans for new services by carriers, and changes in market share impact the actual and projected needs for telephone numbers. Based on recent results provided by carriers operating in Newfoundland and Labrador, there is currently no need to introduce an additional area code this year, reads the news release.
The new 879 area code was scheduled to be introduced in November 2018 joining the current 709 area code and covering the same geographic area.
"The postponement of the introduction of 10-digit dialing and a new area code means there is no immediate need for customers to prepare equipment to accommodate 10-digit dialing and a new area code”, said Canadian Numbering Administrator director Glen Brown, in the release. “However, communications companies in Newfoundland and Labrador are prepared and can support local 10-digit dialing in the region for those who have started to reprogram their equipment."
