Nigeria to Adopt 10-digit Format for Fixed Phone Lines, Gives Reasons
- Beginning January 2024, Nigeria's fixed phone lines will take a new format
- The regular numbers of the fixed phone lines will now take additional digits
- The NCC has stated that the new numbers will fully replace the old ones at the end of the year
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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced a revised numbering structure for landlines.
According to the NCC, the numbering system for fixed lines in Nigeria has been updated from eight digits to ten digits, with the addition of the "02" prefix preceding the existing fixed number.
The development follows the NCC's step of issuing guidelines to telecommunication companies in Nigeria to improve customers’ experience and relations.
Source: Getty Images
New fixed-lines format will be officially implemented
According to a statement by NCC, the new numbering format will come into effect on the first day of next year.
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It stated:
The Commission hereby informs the public of the changes and also clarifies that existing numbers will continue to operate concurrently till the cut-over date of December 31, 2023. From January 1, 2024, the new numbering format beginning with “02” prefix will be operational.
In simpler terms, both the previous and the revised number formats will be in operation simultaneously until the designated cut-over date, which is set for December 31, 2023.
Starting from January 1, 2024, the new fixed-lines format will be officially recognized and fully implemented across all networks.
What new numbers would look like
As an illustration of the updated format, to call the previously established number 09461700, you should now dial 02094617000.
More instances include the current number formats for Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, which were 014630643, 094630643, 084460643, and 064460643, respectively.
Under the new numbering system, these will be revised to 02014630643, 02094630643, 02084460643, and 02064460643, correspondingly.
Nevertheless, it's crucial to emphasize that this modification exclusively pertains to Fixed Telephone Numbers, and there are no alterations to the current mobile numbering format.
The NCC has made this announcement to fulfill one of its primary obligations, aligning with the guidelines of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a branch of the United Nations responsible for overseeing Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
It would be recalled that Legit.ng earlier reported that the NCC announced that a total of 107 million mobile lines that were connected to the four major telecom operators in Nigeria have become inactive as of March 2022.
"Not the Right Time": NCC Speaks to Telecom Consumers on Tariff Hike
In a connected development, Legit.ng disclosed that the NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission) has officially announced its intention not to increase telecommunications tariffs.
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who serves as the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, provided this assurance during his acceptance of the Titans of Tech (ToT) award ceremony held in Lagos.
Danbatta emphasized that the absence of subsidies has presently deterred the NCC from considering any telecommunications rate hikes.
He underscored that the responsibility for such determinations rests with the telecommunications industry as a whole.
Source: Legit.ng
