Add the Code What is changing? Which areas will be affected and when? Will my phone number change? How do I make local calls when the new code goes into service? How should I get ready for this change? Why will there be different area codes within in the same region? Who's responsible for managing phone numbers? What is changing? The demand for new phone numbers is constantly growing with the ever-expanding use of fax machines, wireless phones, Internet connections, pagers, personal telephone lines and data transmission services. Once the telephone numbers are distributed within region and numbers with specialized uses (such 911, 411 and 611) are removed, a limited amount of numbers remain. As a result of all the new telephone subscribers requiring numbers, the supply of available phone numbers within certain area codes is declining. The solution is to add either a new area code within a region usually with the introduction of 10-digit dialling. After the introduction of a new area code, to reach any existing or new subscribers within the area, you'll have to dial all 10 digits - even when making a local call within the region. Which areas will be affected and when? Clients in the following regions will begin using 10-digit local dialling on June 17, 2006. After a three-month transition period, mandatory 10-digit dialling takes effect in October 2006. regions cities date Southwestern Ontario Area code 519 Brantford, Cambridge, Chatham, Goderich, Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Orangeville, Owen Sound, Sarnia, Simcoe, Stratford, Windsor, Woodstock October 14, 2006 (new area code 226) Eastern Quebec Area code 418 Baie-Comeau, Chibougamau, Gaspé, Montmagny, Québec, Rimouski, Saguenay, Sept-Iles October 21, 2006 (mandatory 10-digit dialing) Eastern Ontario Area code 613 Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston, Ottawa October 21, 2006 (mandatory 10-digit dialing) Northeastern Ontario Area code 705 North Bay, Peterborough, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins October 21, 2006 (mandatory 10-digit dialing) Central & Western Quebec Area code 819 Amos, Drummondville, Gatineau, Shawinigan/Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville, Val d'Or October 21, 2006 (mandatory 10-digit dialing) Island of Montreal Area code 514 Montreal October 28, 2006 (new area code 438) Central Southern Quebec (excluding Montreal) Area code 450 St. Jérôme, Terrebonne, Laval, Repentigny, Longueuil, Granby, Salaberry-De-Valleyfield October 28, 2006 (mandatory 10-digit dialing) Find more information about the regions here. Will my phone number change? No. Your existing phone number and area code will remain the same. As new area codes are introduced in October, they will be assigned to new telephone, wireless and other subscribers. How do I make local calls when the new area code goes into service? Once implemented, when making local calls, you will have to dial all 10 digits of the phone number you're calling. For example, if you're calling an existing 519 phone number, you'll have to dial 519-555-5555, even if you're in the 519 region and calling your neighbour. If you're in the 519 area and calling someone in the same town or city with the new area code 226, you'll have to dial the complete 10 digits. You don't have to dial '1' because it's not a long distance call. Note that 10-digit dialling affects all telecommunications devices, including Landline and wireless phones Fax machines Modems Security systems PBX systems Any equipment using speed dialling, automatic dialling, call forwarding Learn more about 10-digit dialling How should I get ready for this change? You can start preparing right now. If you store all your phone numbers in long distance format (1 + area code + phone number), with no spaces or punctuation, you will be able to make calls without any interruptions. If you're making a local call, TELUS' network will strip the '1' out of the number, making it a local call. You can also save phone numbers as 10-digit numbers (area code + phone number) in your phone book, but you'll have to remember to add the '1' if you're making a long distance call. Please remember, if you're making a long distance call and haven't dialed '1', you will get a message from TELUS asking you to add the '1' and try the call again. Why will there be different area codes within the same region? This solution is easiest for clients and businesses alike. Adding a new area code to cover the same geographic area as the old code is easier than splitting up the existing geographical area and changing everyone's phone number. This solution is less intrusive and allows all existing clients to keep their phone numbers and area codes, while adding more numbers to the affected region. Splitting an region and adding a new area code means that all subscribers will have to convert their phone numbers to the new area code. Who is responsible for managing phone numbers? In 1998, the Canadian telecommunications industry established the Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium Inc. (CNAC), an independent third-party corporation to manage number resources in Canada. In January 1999. CNAC contracted Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to act as the Canadian Numbering Administration (CNA). CNAC is regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and is responsible for managing all phone numbers in Canada, including assigning telephone numbers to the telecommunications industry and solving problems related to the lack of numbers for the existing area codes. SAIC carries out the day-to-day work of number management in Canada for CNAC. Learn more about the area code changes.