The phone area codes in 59 out of the country's 63 cities and provinces will not be changed from March 1 as previously planned by the Ministry of Information and Communications.
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The phone area codes in 59 out of the country’s 63 cities and provinces will not be changed from March 1 as previously planned by the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Area code change triggers concern Telephone area codes of 59 provinces to be changed from March 1 Changes to area code, digital prefixes to happen in phases
According to a representative of the Authority of Telecommunications, the ministry’s Circular 22 on changing the area codes will take effect on March 1. Instead, after that date, the authority will work with telecom enterprises on changing the area codes and consider a road map to minimize the impact of change on enterprises and individuals.
The authority will draw up a plan and present it to the Minister of Information and Communications for approval before officially changing the area codes. The specific date for changing the codes has not been set but will be publicized 60 days in advance.
The area codes of 59 provinces and cities will not be changed all at once but gradually to minimize the impact on enterprises and individuals. In addition to the area code change, 11-digit cell numbers will be converted into 10-digit ones then.
Each phase of the plan will last 3-6 months and be implemented in localities in the same region. Both old and new codes may be used together while the codes are being changed so that users can get familiar with the new numbers.
The ministry’s plan to change the area codes and convert 11-digit mobile numbers into 10-digit ones is expected to be finished in 2020.
(Source: SGT)
