| Oftel Press Office Press Office Release Archive 2001 | |
| BIG NUMBER CAMPAIGN ENDS AS OLD CODES SWITCH OFF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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35/01 On Saturday, 28 April, the final stage in a three year process of creating essential numbering capacity in the UK will be put in place. All mobile and pager numbers will now use the new codes beginning 07. All special rate numbers will use the new 08 codes. All premium rate codes will begin 09. The old numbers have been working alongside the new 07 mobile and pager numbers as a safety net since September 1999. After 28 April any calls made to old mobile and pager numbers using the old codes will not be connected and callers will get a recorded message telling them to redial using the new codes. People are urged to check that they have changed any numbers stored in mobile or fixed phones or databases, as these will no longer work after Saturday. David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said today:
"The changes finalised on Saturday have created 300 million mobile phone numbers.
"Switching off the old codes is the final step in a totally successful two-year programme to create extra capacity to meet future needs in the UK numbering system. It has been secured effectively and with minimum disruption for phone users.
"These changes will follow last year’s geographic code changes in six UK cities, which went smoothly.
"The UK numbering system is now much clearer. Consumers now know from the dialling code what kind of number they are calling – fixed, mobile, special rate or premium rate." "In the UK we now have 9 billion phone numbers. We anticipate that overall, the numbering scheme has sufficient flexibility and capacity for the foreseeable future."
Notes to editors 1. David Edmonds will be available for interview during the afternoon of Wednesday, 25 April. Please contact Oftel’s press office on 020 7634 8991 to set up a meeting. 2. The changes are part of Oftel’s reorganisation of the UK’s numbering system that will create a reserve of nine billion phone numbers and give an indication of the type of service that is being called and likely charge. 3. Old codes will change as follows:
* Special Rate Numbers
3. The new numbering
system is:
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