MONTREAL — Three new area codes – 263, 354 and 468 – will be introduced in Quebec starting Oct. 22, the Telecommunications Alliance announced today.
The new 263 area code will be introduced in Montreal, which is currently served by area codes 514 and 438, while the area code 354 will be added in the regions surrounding the city that are currently served by area codes 450 and 579.
Area code 468 will be introduced in the regions currently covered by area codes 819 and 873, which includes communities in central and western Quebec such as Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, Rouyn-Noranda, Shawinigan, Val-d’Or, Victoriaville, Lac-Mégantic, Magog, Mont-Laurier and Mont-Tremblant.
“The new area codes will be introduced gradually starting on October 22. After this date, consumers and businesses requesting a new phone number may receive one with the new area code,” said Kelly T. Walsh, program manager of the Canadian Numbering Administrator, in a press release.
The introduction of the three new area codes, originally announced in March, “is in response to the increasing demand for phone numbers in the region, ensuring residents and businesses continue to have enough numbers to meet demand well into the future,” the release explains.
Existing phone numbers will keep the same area code, and local calling areas remain the same, the release says. All local calls will require 10-digit dialling.
Special numbers such as 211, 311, 411, 611 and 911 will not be affected and will still be dialled using only three digits.
“Business customers using communications systems that restrict long distance calling will need to add the 263, 354 and 468 as local area codes,” the release adds.
The Telecommunications Alliance runs communications campaigns on behalf of Canada’s major telecom service providers regarding the introduction of new area codes.
For more information about new area codes in Canada, please visit newareacodes.ca.
