Manitobans to begin 10-digit dialing in 2012

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This article was published 29/07/2010 (5784 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Move over 204. Make some room for 431.

On Nov. 3, 2012, the province’s new area code — 431 — will debut.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced the new area code’s timeline Wednesday, paving the way for thousands of new telephone numbers in Manitoba.

All existing 204 numbers will remain intact but most new numbers assigned in the province will begin with 431.

To prepare for the new area code, Manitobans will have to get used to 10-digit dialling a few weeks before the new area code shows up. That means as of Oct. 20, 2012, local calls will require the area code as well as the regular seven-digit phone number.

To help transition phone users to the new system, 10-digit dialing will begin July 29, 2012, but until Oct. 20, 2012 you will still be connected if you forget to dial the area code but will be given a reminder by a recorded message of the new dialing requirements.

MTS Allstream president Kelvin Shepherd said there are some technology and hard wire upgrades required to adapt to the new system. They include physical changes to the network and upgrades of the MTS billing system, which identifies customers by their seven-digit phone number.

Businesses might also need to modify phone systems to include the new 10-digit system, and anything that has an automatic phone number programmed into it will have to be changed. That includes, Shepherd noted, alarm panels, most of which are designed to automatically call the alarm monitoring station but only with seven digits.

Shepherd said he doesn’t think Manitobans will be too upset about the change or take more than a few weeks to get used to dialing 10 numbers instead of seven for local calls.

“Based on what I’ve seen and heard there will be people who don’t like having to dial 10 numbers,” said Shepherd. “But this isn’t something people have a better alternative for.”

Manitoba is the fifth province to add 10-digit dialing. The Toronto area was first in 2001. Saskatchewan and the four Atlantic provinces have yet to make the transition.

In some previous decisions, the CRTC added the new area code geographically, hiving off a portion of a province or region and giving everyone living there a brand new area code. However, that caused many more disruptions than the newer way of doing things, which is to add the new area code to an entire region or province and assign all new numbers to it.

The actual area code number is selected by the Canadian Numbering Administrator, which works with the United States and 17 Caribbean nations to ensure there is no overlap in area codes.

The code is also selected to ensure it does not coincide with a local exchange already in existence in the province. That prevents anyone in Manitoba, for example, from having a phone number that is 204-204-1234 or 431-431-1234.

Manitoba was first assigned the 204 area code in 1947.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca