One of the things that people who have lived in UK cities love about rural phone numbers is that there are only six digits to remember. It’s also pretty convenient for us all who use it daily as well.
Today you may have heard the news that six-digit local numbers will become a thing of the past.
VB has been on the path of finding out when it will affect the Isle of Wight.
Why the change?
Ofcom, the organisation that oversees the policy on UK telephones (among many other things), announced that they foresee six-digit local numbers running out.
To counter this, people will have to dial the full dialling code. So, instead of 898 777 to get in touch with VentnorBlog, you’d have to dial 01983 898 777.
The impact
Now, for many people that would be a considerable inconvenience, although they don’t have to remember any more numbers – everyone on the Island knows the dialling code is 01983.
Besides having to dial five more digits for a phone call, any business who only displays their six-digit number would need to replace their stationery, business cards, have their vans repainted, etc.
How long for the Isle of Wight?
Given that, we got in touch with Ofcom to find when they estimate this change will be needed to be made on the Isle of Wight.
We think you’ll be pleased about what we found out.
OfCom’s Liz de Winton told VB that their calculations indicate that the change isn’t going to be needed until 2036!
Phew! That give us a little time then.
How will it help?
At the moment neither zero or one can be used at the start of the six digit local number – so no 012 345 or 123 456 – as the telephone network interprets that as the start of an out of area code.
By freeing the use of those zero and one first digits, a total of 200,000 new phone numbers are released.
This method would save the massive upheaval of having whole new dialling codes, as has happened in London and other major cities.
Image: exalthim under CC BY-SA 2.0
