NANPA Planning Letter (PL) Number 414 - Ontario, Canada - NPA 249 Overlay for NPA 705

PL 414 was issued as advisement of a new carrier and test number options relative to the 249 NPA overlay for NPA 705. A bit of history on this overlay -- in 10/09, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) had directed the relief for Ontario area code 705 to be provided (effective 3/19/11) through a distributed overlay of new area code 249.

The overlay timeline was identified as:

• 1/15/11 – Calls dialed with 7-digits will receive an announcement advising the number dialed must be preceded by its area code and that their call will now proceed (will be connected).
• 3/5/11 - Mandatory 10-digit dialing begins. Calls dialed with 7-digits will connect to a similar announcement as above, however, the call will not be connected; instead, the caller will be instructed to redial using the area code. This announcement will remain until replaced by "a standard network announcement" phased in mid-June ’11.

Dialing Plan for Calls Originating in NPA 705 and 249:

• Local and Extended Area Service = 10-digits (NPA-NXX-XXXX)
• Toll and Alternatively Billed = 10-digits after the appropriate prefix digit(s).

Network testing began 11/15/10 for international and domestic carriers to ensure activation of the new 249 NPA. PL 414 was issued to advise of a new carrier and test number options. A complete listing of test numbers, along with a map showing geographic areas in this northern Ontario region served are available at www.nanpa.com.