Hold the phone! Growing Saskatchewan gets new area code and 10 digit dialling

REGINA – Saskatchewan is getting 10-digit local dialling and a new area code.

The public authority that regulates telecommunications in Canada says area code 639 will be introduced in 2013 in order to prevent a shortage of telephone numbers in the province.

The CRTC says anyone who wants a new phone number could get area code 639, but existing customers will keep the 306 area code and their phone number.

Overlapping two area codes in the province means people will have to dial 10 digits even for local calls.

The CRTC says the transition will start Feb. 25, 2013, and will be gradually introduced over the following weeks before it becomes mandatory by May 11, 2013.

The change comes because Saskatchewan is expected to run out of telephone numbers by August 2013.