VANCOUVER – The recorded reminders to dial all 10 digits when making local calls will end in British Columbia and Alberta between September 8 and 12, but they are doing their job, says the Telecommunications Alliance.
The telecom company group said in a release that nearly all local calls are now being made using 10 digits
“Last week, 96% of local phone calls placed in the affected areas were made using 10 digits. It’s possible the remaining four per cent of calls are being made on auto-dialers, computers, fax machines and speed dials that have not been re-programmed. Those calls will no longer be connected once 10-digit dialing is fully implemented between September 8 and 12. Customers are reminded that if they have not yet re-programmed all their phone equipment, now is the time to do it,” reads the release.
To meet growing demand for phone numbers, the telecommunications industry is adding new area codes to B.C. and Alberta – 778 in B.C.’s current 250 area code region and 587 across Alberta. A second area code means that people must dial 10 digits for local calls, adding the area code.
The telecommunications industry started phasing in 10-digit dialing with the introduction of a permissive dialing period in June. During this reminder period, when most people made a local call using seven digits rather than 10, they heard a brief recorded announcement of the move to 10-digit dialing before their call was connected. That reminder period ends shortly, and full mandatory 10-digit dialing will be phased in across both provinces between September 8 and 12.
These changes are in accordance with the CRTC-approved plan to meet the increasing demand for phone numbers in Alberta and B.C. Existing customers will not be required to change their current telephone numbers, nor will the geographic boundaries that govern long-distance calling be affected.
