Some Manitobans getting 431 area code
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Posted By By ROSS ROMANIUK QMI Agency
Posted 1 month ago
WINNIPEG — In a couple of years, Manitobans and others will have to know not just the phone numbers of whoever they're calling within the province — but their area code as well.
It's all because Manitoba will receive an additional area code — 431 — in the fall of 2012.
The federal telecommunications regulator confirmed Wednesday that come November 2012, the area code 431 will begin to be used with some Manitoba telephone numbers. And along with the move to the second area code, all Manitobans will have to dial all 10 digits for local calls.
"You would always need to dial an area code to complete a phone call in Manitoba, even if it's just across the street," said Greg Burch, spokesman for MTS Allstream.
"It's three additional numbers as part of the phone number. We hope people will be able to adapt to that, with a minimum of disruption."
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission announced the change, though news of the additional area code had emerged in the past several weeks.
Manitoba's 10-digit dialling will begin to be phased in on July 29, 2012, and be complete by Oct. 20, 2012. The 431 area code will take effect on Nov. 3 of that year.
The changes are being made to prevent Manitoba from running out of phone numbers by May 2013, as the province grows and cellphone use expands rapidly.
Existing telephone customers will continue to use the 204 area code after that date. The 431 code will apply to new listings — wherever their owners will be located, rather than in a specific region of the province.
So instead of a system such as Alberta uses, with the 780 area code for Edmonton and 403 for Calgary, Manitoba will see an "overlay" mix of both its area codes everywhere.
"The experience in other divisions is that this approach, which is called an overlay, has been fairer and generally superior … as opposed to trying to subdivide the area code," Burch said, suggesting some customers in regions forced to change their code would be upset about it.
Burch said he had no details on the cost of the changes, but added the shift is a "significant undertaking" MTS is preparing for.
news@cpheraldleader.com
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