Mobile phone numbers in Ecuador will include the number “9” by Sept. 30, as a measure to increase the number capacity to 100 million available mobile phone numbers. The increase will allow the country to meet future voice and data demand.
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According to the government, currently wireless carriers have about 24 million phone numbers, of which CNT EP owns 1.5 million; Movistar has 6.4 million; and 16.1 million belong to Claro. However, there are 16.4 million active lines in Ecuador.
The latest move is the third part of a national numbering plan, which started back in September 2001, when one digit was added to numbers in the Pichincha and Guayas provinces and to all mobile phone numbers. In September 2003, one digit was added to numbers in the other provinces.
And this year, all Ecuadorian mobile numbers will have to add the number 9 after the first “0” (see illustration to the right).
Brazil
In the São Paulo area of Brazil, the code number 11, which includes 64 municipalities, all mobile lines had one digit (9) added on June 29 of this year. The measure aimed to expand number resources to meet growing demand.
Telecom operators were responsible for the implementation of the new digit, as well as for all expenses related to the new rule. Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, estimated that the carriers’ costs to make the necessary adjustments would total about $172.06 million (R$300 million).
