Seven-digit phone numbers on the way |24 September 2010

The Department of Information Communication Technology gave the details yesterday of the change from six-digit to seven-digit phone numbers.

Last time there was an increase was in 1993, when there was a huge demand for new phone numbers.

Director of radio communications Paul Pierre said this is also the case this time round, as there is a need to accommodate the continually growing number of mobile phone users.

“We also want to add another digit to the existing numbers because we want to standardise our numbers with the international ones to make it easier to introduce new services in the future,” he said.

The change will take place gradually over a period of three months, with the department and local telecommunications providers working together to make the transition a smooth one.

“When the telecom providers start the shift to seven-digit numbers, there will be a period of time when both six and seven digits will be used,” said Mr Pierre.

During the first stage of the switch to new numbers, two local telecommunications service providers will start changing their numbers – adding the new digit to the old numbers.

However, the department said once the transition period is over everyone in the country is expected to use seven-digit numbers to make calls locally.

Representatives from the country’s four telecommunications providers – Cable & Wireless, Airtel, Intelvision and Kokonet – all agree that the change will be beneficial to their customers.

However, they stress that they will have to work hard during the transition period to contact their partners overseas and locally to iron out new arrangements for some services they offer, such as roaming.

All four said they will carry out intensive campaigns to inform all their local clients of the change in numbers.

Kokonet’s representative Romano Laurence said since his company offers Voice Over Internet Protocol telephony – where customers can make calls through their computers – this move is very welcome as people using that service tend to ask for a lot of phone numbers.