Jamaican callers will now be required to dial all 10 digits when placing local telephone calls.
The introduction of 10-digit dialling forms part of plans to move the country from the current standardised seven-digit dialling as the 876 area code becomes exhausted and a new area code — 658 — added.
According to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), in order to ensure that telephone numbers will always be available, the new area code is being introduced.
Customers are therefore being reminded to update their contact lists with 876 preceding all local numbers in preparation for the new regime, which has been necessitated by the acquisition of the new three-digit area code for the island.