The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) notified that as of September 1, the way in which landlines are called in the country will change, which will consist of a unified 10-digit scheme, as used for cell lines.
In Direct Contact, Carlos Lugo Silva, commissioner of the CRC Communications Commission Session, explained what this process is about and how it will have to be marked once this decision enters into force.
Why and why change the dialing of landlines in the country?
More than 10 years ago, a plan to modernize the fixed networks had been established together with a much easier and simpler numbering plan; but, for various reasons, it had not been possible to implement that plan in the country. In July 2019, the CRC issued the new regulation and the implementation date was set for 2020, but the pandemic postponed it for a few months.
Finally, this year we will implement the new dialing that will start in September and seeks to simplify the ways of communicating because until now there were various ways of dialing between mobile and landline phones and also international calls. With the new measure we seek to modernize the fixed networks in Colombia, which has implied that the operators make some updates and adjustments to these networks to give more value to fixed telephony, and also so that there is a single number that can be called from any device so as not to depend on operator codes.
We want to make the process simpler and that the user only has to dial and learn a new number which will consist of 10 digits unifying the extension between mobile telephony and fixed telephony.
What is this change about?
Now only 60 will be dialed plus the region code. What we have done is eliminate all operator or mobile phone security codes and simply add a 6-0 and therefore all calls made from a cell phone, or from a landline to another landline, or to an international line , must be made with 10 digits. What we have done is make a unique dialing where the code 6-0 is placed before it and the callsign changes according to the region that you want to call. From a landline phone or from a cell phone, now only direct dialing will be made with these 10 digits without putting any code from any operator.
What does the modernization of the fixed networks contemplated with this change consist of?
Since 2019 this process began and the last part is where we are. This process implied the modernization of all fixed telephony stations that were obsolete so that, through digital technologies and with a software modernization of the operators, this new dialing is implemented and therefore the communication of a faster and better quality way.
So what do users need to learn to be able to dial?
As of September 1, we will conclude the phase of changing the numbering, the 10-digit national single dialing, and the elimination of operator codes. From September 1 and onwards all users will have to memorize the 6 0 and the indicative of their regions. This third number corresponds to the traditional indicative that the departments have had throughout history; this does not change.
That is, if I am at home in Cali and I want to call my cousin who is in the same city, should I also use the new dialing?
Exactly.
Will cell numbers have any changes?
No. In fact, what inspired us several years ago to do this modernization was to unify single dialing to 10 digits, so cell phone numbers will not change, they remain the same.
How much time will Colombians have to adapt to this new marking?
From September 1 to December 1, 2021 we will be in a coexistence phase, where operators will tell users through pre-recorded audio that only new dialing will be accepted from December 1 adding the 60 and the indicative of the region. This will complete the process of dissemination and training for citizens.
The CRC explained the process through the following image and shared the list of indicatives.