BIG NUMBER CAMPAIGN ENDS AS OLD CODES SWITCH OFF

24 Apr 2001 12:00 AM

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:

Mobile Numbers Pager Numbers OLD NEW OLD NEW

0370 XXXXXX 07770 XXXXXX 01399 XXXXXX 07699 XXXXXX

0374 XXXXXX 07774 XXXXXX 01426 XXXXXX 07626 XXXXXX

0378 XXXXXX 07778 XXXXXX 01459 XXXXXX 07659 XXXXXX

0385 XXXXXX 07785 XXXXXX 01523 XXXXXX 07623 XXXXXX

0401 XXXXXX 07701 XXXXXX 01893 XXXXXX 07693 XXXXXX

0402 XXXXXX 07702 XXXXXX 0336 7XXXXX 07663 7XXXXX

0403 XXXXXX 07703 XXXXXX 04325 XXXXXX 07625 XXXXXX

0410 XXXXXX 07710 XXXXXX 04624 XXXXXX 07624 XXXXXX

0411 XXXXXX 07711 XXXXXX 0660 XXXXXX 07661 XXXXXX

0421 XXXXXX 07721 XXXXXX 0839 XXXXXX 07661 XXXXXX

0441 XXXXXX 07741 XXXXXX 0881 XXXXXX 07681 XXXXXX

04481 XXXXXX 07781 XXXXXX 0941 XXXXXX 07641 XXXXXX

Mobile Numbers OLD NEW

04624 XXXXXX 07624 XXXXXX

0467 XXXXXX 07767 XXXXXX

0468 XXXXXX 07768 XXXXXX

0498 XXXXXX 07798 XXXXXX

0585 XXXXXX 07885 XXXXXX

0589 XXXXXX 07889 XXXXXX

0802 XXXXXX 07802 XXXXXX

0831 XXXXXX 07831 XXXXXX

0836 XXXXXX 07836 XXXXXX

0850 XXXXXX 07850 XXXXXX

0860 XXXXXX 07860 XXXXXX

0930 7 XXXXX 07930 7XXXXX

0956 XXXXXX 07956 XXXXXX

0958 XXXXXX 07958 XXXXXX

0961 XXXXXX 07961 XXXXXX

0966 XXXXXX 07966 XXXXXX

0973 XXXXXX 07973 XXXXXX

0976 XXXXXX 07976 XXXXXX

0979 XXXXXX 07797 XXXXXX

* Special Rate Numbers Existing New

0345 XXXXXX 0845 7XXXXXX

0374 5XXXXX 0870 45XXXXX

0541 XXXXXX 0870 1XXXXXX

0645 XXXXXX 0845 9XXXXXX

0990 XXXXXX 0870 5XXXXXX

3. The new numbering system is:

00 International codes 02 New area codes 03 Reserved for area codes 04 Reserved for future use 05 Reserved for corporate numbering 06 Reserved for future use 07 Mobile, pagers & personal numbers 08 Freephone & special rate numbers 09 Premium rate services & multimedia