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In the international telephone network, the format of telephone numbers is standardized by ITU-T recommendation E.164. This code specifies that the entire number should be 15 digits or shorter, and begin with an international calling prefix and a country prefix.
It can be made directly by dialling the country code together with the destination phone number. This is the most expensive way to call internationally. It can be made by adding an add-on to an existing mobile phone tariff. A number of mobile phone network operators are offering add-ons for making discounted international calls. [6]
A July 2020 order by the Federal Communications Commission required ten-digit dialing of telephone numbers with area codes in the United States that were not overlaid, but had an assignment of the central office prefix 988, conflicting with its designation for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by federal law.
The change was in response to a lack of free numbers in these areas. By requiring the area code for all local calls, Ofcom are able to allocate numbers starting with 1 or 0. This increases the number of telephone numbers available without requiring a number change. [129]
These are dialed before the national telephone number. Following ITU-T specification E.123, international telephone numbers are commonly indicated in listings by prefixing the country code with a plus sign (+). This reminds the subscriber to dial the international access code of the country from which the call is placed.
PhONEday was a change to telephone numbering in the United Kingdom on Sunday 16 April 1995. A shortage of unique telephone numbers in the old dialling system meant that it was becoming increasingly difficult in certain areas of the country to assign unique numbers to new subscribers.
As phone lines became more popular—between 1942 and 1962, the number of phones in the U.S. grew 230% to 76 million—telephone companies realized they would run out of phone numbers.
1 July 1881: The world's first international telephone call is made between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine, United States. [22] 11 October 1881: The Sydney telephone exchange opened with 12 subscribers. 1882: A telephone company—an American Bell Telephone Company affiliate—is set up in Mexico City.