Local 10-digit dialing coming soon to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that starting in August 2014, 10-digit local dialing will be required for all local calls made in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The CRTC also announced that a new area code, would be introduced in the province.
The transition to 10-digit dialing will begin on August 23, 2014, and will be gradually introduced over the following weeks. During this transition period, customers who dial 7-digits will hear an announcement advising them to include the area code in future calls, after which their call will be completed. 10-digit dialing will become mandatory by November 16, 2014.
To comply with 10-digit local dialing, some automated dialing systems, including alarm systems, must be reprogrammed to include the area code. It is important to ensure that the necessary reprogramming be completed before 10-digit local dialing comes into effect on August 23, 2014. After this date, a recorded message will be heard each time a call is dialed using 7-digits. This message could interrupt the transmission of data such as alarm signals.
It is therefore critically important that any security services that utilize the telephone network are modified to accommodate 10-digit local dialing by August 23, 2014.