Algeria to Launch 10-digit Phone Dialing in February

APA-Alger (Algeria) Algeria will launch a 10-digit phone dialing system on 22 February 2008, the board of the countryÃ's Post and Telecommunication Regulation Authority (ARTP) said on Monday.

In a news conference in Algiers, ARTP chairman Mohamed Belfodil said the new system will switch from 9 to 10 digits, with users adding one digit to the current "0" initial digit.

He said as an indication that the subscribers of Wataniya Telecom Algeria will be adding 5 (0+5+52…), Algeria Telecom Mobile 6 (0+6+63…) and Orascom Telecom Algeria 7 (0+7+71…).

In turn, the subscribers of VSAT and VOIP will be adding "9" to the current "0" two weeks after the introduction of the new system.

However, fixed-line operators will keep their current 9-digit number system, as they will be only concerned by the new national telephone system in July 2009 when they will be required to add "4" to the current initial "0". Thus, in the region of Algiers numbers will begin by 0+4+21…

However, there would be no change for international calls.

The new system will help avoid reaching a saturation point of the number system, which registers 90 million numbers distributed among 40 million fixed-line, 40 million mobile and 10 million "intelligence services" phone users.

Posted to the site on 18th December 2007