FREDERICTON — The province of New Brunswick’s planned introduction of a new area code and local 10-digit dialling later this year is being deferred, as approved by the CRTC in a recent decision.
The introduction of the new 428 area code was initially planned for November 21, 2020. However, based on the most recent numbering forecast conducted by the Canadian Numbering Administrator, New Brunswick’s current 506 area code will not reach capacity this year, and therefore there is no requirement to add a new area code yet, says the news release.
In fact, the most recent numbering forecast indicates the projected exhaust date for area code 506 has moved to April 2023. Given the Canadian Numbering Plan Area Relief Planning Guideline recommends a new area code be implemented 12 to 18 months prior to the projected exhaust date of the current area code, the CRTC has approved changing the implementation date for New Brunswick’s new 428 area code to April 23, 2022.
“The postponement of the introduction of the new area code means there is no immediate need for customers to prepare equipment to accommodate 10-digit dialling,” said Kelly Walsh, director of the Canadian Numbering Administrator, in the news release. “However, telecommunications companies in New Brunswick are already prepared and can support local 10-digit dialling for those who have started to reprogram their equipment.”
Today’s news release was issued by the Telecommunications Alliance, which develops communications campaigns to inform Canadians about the introduction of new area codes throughout Canada. For more information, please visit dial10.ca.
