Costa Rica Now Has An 8
Digit Telephone Number
System
Starting today all
telephone numbers are
eight digits as all
fixed lines have a 2
added at the beginning
of the number and
cellular lines an 8.
However, if you forget,
not to worry too much
because ICE - the
Instituto Costarricense
de Electricidad -
computer system will
remind callers who
forget to add the extra
digit to do so.
However, how do you know
to add a 2 or an 8? All
cellular lines began
with a 3, 8 and 9 while
all fixed lines began
with a 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Calls to 911, 113, 115,
and 193, for example,
and all 800 numbers are
not affected by the
change.
Elbert Durán, a
spokesperson for ICE,
said that staff has been
added to the 115 and 113
- customer service and
directory information,
respectively - to attend
to all the calls that
have been flooding in
since the change.
Durán added that some
500 people were on hand
in various key points
when the changeover took
place to ensure a smooth
transition.
Durán said that the only
problem encountered last
night was the theft of
telephone cable in the
area of Cebadilla,
Alajuela, where 1.500
telephone and 500
Internet Acelera
customers were affected.
In total 3.3 million
telephone numbers are
affected by the change
that was announced by
ICE back in February
2007.
According to ICE
estimates the eight
digit system will allow
the institution to
expand its telephone
number network for the
next 30 years.
The new system now
allows for a possible
100 million
combinations, 90 million
than the seven digit
system.
The last time Costa Rica
made an important change
in its telephone
numbering system was
back in 1994 when it
changed from six digits
to seven.
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