The Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications (NIACT) are reminding consumers of the forthcoming mobile phone code change. From 28th April 2001, ONLY the new 07 mobile phone codes will work. This means that any mobile code that does not have the prefix 07 will stop working.

The changes are due to a huge increase in the use of telecommunications in the past few years. Because of this, Oftel, the telecoms regulator, has designed a new system which will cope with current demand and free up hundreds of millions of numbers for future use.

Steps you can take for the change:

• If your mobile number does not begin with 07 - contact your service provider immediately to find out what your new number will be.

• Check that ALL numbers in your mobile phone book memory are updated with the new 07 number
• If you have a "Free Best Friend" number, tell your mobile operator what the new number will be

If you do not make these changes you could find yourself unable to contact your friends or family, or that they cannot contact you.

Alternatively you may find that you are being charged for calls you were expecting to be free.

To find out more about the number changes, call the helpline on:

For further information please contact NIACT on: 0845 714 5000 or niact@acts.org.uk