SaskTel announced that SaskTel customers across the province of Saskatchewan can now dial 10 digits for local calls - the area code plus the phone number. (Dialing 1 is not required when placing a 10-digit local call.) As part of a recent decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to add a new Saskatchewan area code (639), 10-digit dialing for local calls will become mandatory in May 2013.
Although Saskatchewan providers are only required to implement permissive local 10-digit dialing by February of 2013, SaskTel made a business decision to make it available to customers early so they can begin to prepare for the transition to mandatory local 10-digit dialing in May 2013.
"SaskTel employees have done an excellent job getting our network ready for permissive local 10-digit dialing almost 15 months ahead of the industry deadline," said Ron Styles, SaskTel President and CEO. "SaskTel is committed to making the transition to mandatory 10-digit dialing as smooth as possible for our customers."
When mandatory local 10-digit dialing begins in May 2013, all callers in Saskatchewan will need to dial the area code plus the phone number for local phone calls. (Dialing 1 is not required for local calls.) Current customer phone numbers will not change. Special 3-digit numbers such as 911, 611 and 411 will continue to be 3-digit numbers and won't be affected. Local calling areas and long distance calls will also stay the same. Customers will continue to dial 1 plus the area code and phone number for long distance calls.
Now that permissive 10-digit dialing is available, SaskTel customers can begin updating the programmed numbers in their telecommunications equipment such as: home phones, cell phones, fax machines, modems, equipment for the hearing impaired, home security systems, etc. (If you have any questions about your security system's 10-digit dialing readiness, please contact your security provider.) Customers should also make any necessary changes to calling features such as: speed dial, call forwarding and call blocking. Customers should begin providing their 10-digit phone number in all instances where they need to provide a contact number such as: personal cheques, medical forms, stationary, business cards, insurance forms, etc. And business customers can begin making changes to their telecommunications equipment, advertising materials, signage, websites and any other places where business phone numbers are listed.
A second area code is required in Saskatchewan due to the increase in competitive activity among existing and new service providers within the province. In addition, the growth of wireless services, and the proliferation of wireless devices, has helped to deplete the pool of available numbers within the 306 area code. Local 10-digit dialing is necessary in order to introduce the new 639 area code which will be implemented across the province in 2013 using the overlay method as directed by the CRTC.
The move to 10-digit dialing impacts all telephone service providers operating in Saskatchewan. SaskTel and the other providers are all working to implement 10-digit dialing under the supervision of the CRTC and the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA).
