OTTAWA-GATINEAU, October 30, 2013 — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that it will introduce a new area code in southwestern Ontario.
Starting on June 4, 2015, new telephone numbers assigned in the 226 and 519 regions may be given area code 548. Existing customers will keep their current area codes and phone numbers.
The Canadian Numbering Administrator previously informed the CRTC that area codes 226 and 519 serving southwestern Ontario are expected to run out of telephone numbers by September 2015.
Introduced in 1953, the 519 area code covers most of southwestern Ontario, including such cities as London, Sarnia, Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford. In October 2006, the 226 area code was added to the area served by area code 519, which required the introduction of mandatory 10-digit local dialing. By adding area codes in this manner, subscribers could keep their current telephone numbers.
The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.
- 30 -
