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India | +91 | ||||
Area Code: 2-7 digits Subscriber Number: 4-8 digits Trunk Prefix: 0 International Prefix: 00
From 1 August 2004, dialling procedures to call other taluks were changed to require use of STD code before telephone number.
Some details of this change are unavailable.
Source: Change in phone numbers in Hassan - Deccan Herald.
Old numbers New numbers Change date =========== =========== =========== +91 385 2310xxx +91 385 2414xxx 24 March 2004 +91 385 2311xxx +91 385 2415xxx 27 March 2004 +91 385 2312xxx +91 385 2416xxx 30 March 2004Source: telecom announcement (via e-pao.net).
"After endless days and nights on line, I have made some surprising discoveries concerning the changes I had previously written about to you. It appears from the mood of the people of India that change for the sake of change is not always best. First the previously annexed areas (sometime in early 2001) have gone back to their previous status (in early 2003). This possibly has something to do with the ability in major metro areas to dial '95' plus the STD (area code) and then the phone number and be connected with no charge to adjoining areas. Also the people are asking why they have to be forced to dial 8 digit numbers versus 6 digit numbers locally. Specifically the Ahmedabad area +91 79 where the following communities went back to 4 digit STD and 6 digit phone numbers: Barwala 2711, Gandhinagar 2712, Dhandhuka 2713, Dholka 2714, Viramgam 2715, Dehgam 2716, Sanand 2717, and Bareja 2718."
"The Bangalore area +91 80 underwent similar reversals in the communities of: Anekal 8110, Hoskote 8111, Channapatra 8113, Kanakapura 8117, Nellamangala 8118, and Doddaballapur 8119. For example (prior to 2001) Anekal was 08110-2-1234 became changed to 80-782-1234 and has since reverted (2003) to 08110-22-1234."
Secondly, I have found out the mystery of the Surat numbering situation. When I wrote last I assumed that a new STD would replace +91 261 since Surat was already on the seven digit basis (since 2001). Browsing through their on-line directory, I was surprised that all of their numbers began with '2'! They had (unannounced) changed their numbers from 2XX, 3XX, 7XX and 8XX to 2XX and were therefore able to retain their 0261 STD or area code. For example 742-1234 was changed to 242-1234."
"It is interesting to note that in the hurry to update the internet sites even the Indians were confused as numbers in Surat were being listed as 2742-1234, following the 'just add 2' program that BSNL was promoting."
This confirms the continued use of a 10-digit national plan as announced in 1998 (see below) and is in effect for most areas.
The digit '2' was prepended to existing 6-digit subscriber numbers to form new 7-digit subscriber numbers in the following places:
Place Area code ===== ========= Attingal +91 470 (formerly +91 472) Irinjalakuda +91 480 (formerly +91 488) Manjeri +91 483 (formerly +91 493) Nedumangad +91 472 Tiruvalla +91 469 (formerly +91 473)The first digit of the existing 6-digit subscriber number was replaced by digit '2' to form new subscriber numbers which remain 6-digit length:
Place Area code ===== ========= Adimaly +91 4864 (formerly +91 486) Kalpetta +91 4936 (formerly +91 493) Kanhangad +91 4997 (formerly +91 499) Kanjirapally +91 4828 (formerly +91 482) Kasaragod +91 4994 (formerly +91 499) Koduvayur +91 4923 (formerly +91 492) Kunnamkulam +91 4885 (formerly +91 488) Mananthody +91 4935 (formerly +91 493) Mannarghat +91 4924 (formerly +91 492) Munnar +91 4865 (formerly +91 486) Nedumgandom +91 4868 (formerly +91 486) Payyannur +91 4985 (formerly +91 498) Peermedu +91 4869 (formerly +91 486) Perinthalmanna +91 4933 (formerly +91 493) Shoranur +91 4926 (formerly +91 492) Uppala +91 4998 (formerly +91 499) Vadakkancherry-CN +91 4884 (formerly +91 488) Vaikom +91 4829 (formerly +91 482)Source: Kerala Telecom Circle.
Place Old code New code ===== ======== ======== Adimaly +91 486 +91 4864 Adoor +91 473 +91 4734 Alathur +91 492 +91 4922 Attingal +91 472 +91 470 Irinjalakuda +91 488 +91 480 Kalpetta +91 493 +91 4936 Kanhangad +91 499 +91 4997 Kanjirapally +91 482 +91 4828 Kasaragod +91 499 +91 4994 Koduvayur +91 492 +91 4923 Kunnamkulam +91 488 +91 4885 Mananthody +91 493 +91 4935 Manjeri +91 493 +91 483 Mannarghat +91 492 +91 4924 Munnar +91 486 +91 4865 Nedumgandom +91 486 +91 4868 Nilambur +91 493 +91 4931 Palai +91 482 +91 4822 Pathanamthitta +91 473 +91 4733 Payyannur +91 498 +91 4985 Peermedu +91 486 +91 4869 Perinthalmanna +91 493 +91 4933 Ranni +91 473 +91 4735 Shoranur +91 492 +91 4926 Taliparamba +91 498 +91 4982 Thodupuzha +91 486 +91 4862 Tiruvalla +91 473 +91 469 Uppala +91 499 +91 4998 Vadakkancherry-CN +91 488 +91 4884 Vaikom +91 482 +91 4829Source: Kerala Telecom Circle.
Generally, area codes did not change. But most subscriber numbers changes were made by prepending '2' to the existing fixed/wireline subscriber numbers. Some exceptions to this pattern apply for some communities, or numbers were changed in a significantly different manner (including some area code changes). The implementation schedule varied according to city or region.
Information is available through carrier Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL): http://www.bsnl.in/PhoneNoChangeNews.asp
The following sections indicate some of the changes during this time - there are likely other places that have number changes.
For BSNL mobile, however, the subscriber numbers of form 50xxxxx became 200xxxxx.
See Chennai Telephones announcement.
For details, see:
1. BSNL page: New numbering scheme in Kerala Telecom Circle.
2. Kerala Telecom page: New Numbering Scheme in Kerala Telecom Circle.
Existing subscriber numbers in these area codes have had digit '2' prepended:
Place Old format New format ===== ========== ========== Trivandrum +91 471 xxxxxx +91 471 2xxxxxx Quilon +91 474 xxxxxx +91 474 2xxxxxx Punalur +91 475 xxxxxx +91 475 2xxxxxx Karunagappally +91 476 xxxxxx +91 476 2xxxxxx Alleppey +91 477 xxxxxx +91 477 2xxxxxx Shertallai +91 478 xxxxxx +91 478 2xxxxxx Mavelikkara +91 479 xxxxxx +91 479 2xxxxxx Kottayam +91 481 xxxxxx +91 481 2xxxxxx Ernakulam +91 484 xxxxxx +91 484 2xxxxxx Muvattupuzha +91 485 xxxxxx +91 485 2xxxxxx Trichur +91 487 xxxxxx +91 487 2xxxxxx Bitra +91 4890 xxxxx +91 4890 2xxxxx Amini +91 4891 xxxxx +91 4891 2xxxxx Minicoy +91 4892 xxxxx +91 4892 2xxxxx Androth +91 4893 xxxxx +91 4893 2xxxxx Agathy +91 4894 xxxxx +91 4894 2xxxxx Kalpeni +91 4895 xxxxx +91 4895 2xxxxx Kavarathi +91 4896 xxxxx +91 4896 2xxxxx Kadamath +91 4897 xxxxx +91 4897 2xxxxx Kiltan +91 4898 xxxxx +91 4898 2xxxxx Chetlat +91 4899 xxxxx +91 4899 2xxxxx Tellicherry +91 490 xxxxxx +91 490 2xxxxxx Palghat +91 491 xxxxxx +91 491 2xxxxxx Tirur +91 494 xxxxxx +91 494 2xxxxxx Calicut +91 495 xxxxxx +91 495 2xxxxxx Badagara +91 496 xxxxxx +91 496 2xxxxxx Cannanore +91 497 xxxxxx +91 497 2xxxxxxFor details on changing numbers, see Kerala Telecom page: http://www.keralatelecom.com/NUM_CH/7digit.htm.
The following area codes were in effect as of December 2002, but some of these area codes changed on 15 February 2003:
Area code Region/Suburban area ========= ==================== +91 472 Trivandrum (Attingal, Nedumangad) +91 473 Tiruvalla (Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Tiruvalla) +91 482 Kottayam (Kanjirappally, Palai, Vaikom) +91 486 Ernakulam (Adimaly, Munnar, Nedumgandam, Peermade, Thodupuzha) +91 488 Trichur (Irinjalakuda, Kunnamkulam, Vadakkancherry-CN) +91 492 Palghat (Alathur, Koduvayur, Mannarghat, Shoranur) +91 493 Calicut (Kalpetta, Mananthody) +91 493 Malapuram (Manjeri, Nilambur, Perinthalmanna) +91 498 Cannanore (Payyannur, Taliparamba) +91 499 Cannanore (Kanhangad, Kasaragode, Uppala)For details on numbers not affected by the 20 December 2002 phase of changes, see Kerala Telecom page: http://www.keralatelecom.com/NUM_CH/no_chaneH.htm.
Anantapur area (+91 8554):
Place From To ===== ==== == Gugudu Mandal 2538xx 2838xx Gugudu Mandal 2539xx 2839xx Kotanka Mandal 2532xx 2832xx Kotanka Mandal 2533xx 2833xx Maddalapalli 2534xx 2514xx Maddalapalli 2535xx 2515xx Raptadu 2565xx 2865xx Raptadu 2566xx 2866xx Raptadu 2567xx 2867xx Raptadu 2568xx 2868xx Raptadu 2569xx 2869xx Venkatapuram 2574xx 2874xx Venkatapuram 2575xx 2875xxUravakonda zone (+91 8496):
Place From To ===== ==== == Gugudu Mandal 2538xx 2838xx Konakonda 2584xx 2484xx Konakonda 2585xx 2485xx Vidapanakal 2594xx 2494xx Vidapanakal 2595xx 2495xxNallacheruvu zone (+91 8498):
Place From To ===== ==== == Amadaguru 2535xx 2435xx Amadaguru 2536xx 2436xx Mohammadabad 2538xx 2338xx Mohammadabad 2539xx 2339xxTadipatri zone (+91 8558):
Place From To ===== ==== == Cheemalavagupalli 2716xx 2816xx Cheemalavagupalli 2717xx 2817xx Pedapappur 2780xx 2820xx Pedapappur 27181xx 2821xxSource: BSNL Release.
(Noida had been in +91 118 and Ghaziabad in +91 575).
These area codes are near the Delhi Metro area (+91 11). To avoid long distance changes from using conventional STD dialling, local access prefixes '91' (and sometimes '92') were once dialled before the area code and subscriber number. Today, the local access prefix is '95'.
(courtesy Ned Lambert)
An exception for Delhi is for Garuda (WLL Mobile) numbers, whose first digit ('4' or '6') was replaced by '20' e.g. 4xxxxxx became 20xxxxxx.
Numbers in the Trans Yamuna Area (subscriber numbers in 2xxxxxx range) changed to 22xxxxxx format prior to this, as of 25 November 2002.
See MTNL notice.
'2' was prepended to 7-digit Calcutta fixed subscriber numbers:
1 December 2002: 2xxxxxx series changed
2 December 2002: other series from 3xxxxxx to 8xxxxxx changed
The timing of changes to wireless local loop (WLL) fixed telephone numbers was unclear, but digit '2' was to be prepended at some point after 1 December 2002.
Exception: Tarang (WLL-M) mobile: the existing first digit of subscriber number ('7') was changed to '21' e.g. 700xxxx became 2100xxxx.
See Calcutta Telephones notice: http://www.calcuttatelephones.com/numscheme.shtml.
Hosur (+91 4344): subscriber numbers are already 6-digit format, but leading digit '5' changed to '2' e.g. 5xxxxx became 2xxxxx.
Uthangarai (+91 4341): '2' was prepended to the existing ranges 2xxxx, 4xxxx, 5xxxx to form the respective new 7-digit subscriber numbers 22xxxx, 24xxxx, 25xxxx.
See document link via BSNL: Change in the No's of Dharmapuri Telecom Dist..
Ahmednagar (+91 241): 20xxxx becomes 560xxxx
Kolhapur (+91 231): 58xxxx becomes 568xxxx
Nasik (+91 253): 80xxxx becomes 560xxxx
Sangli (+91 233): 50xxxx becomes 560xxxx
For other existing subscriber numbers under carrier BSNL in these places, digit '2' is prepended.
Source: announcement from Hughes Tele.com (now Tata Teleservices)>
Harur (+91 4346): 2xxxx, 4xxxx, 5xxxx, 6xxxx became 22xxxx, 24xxxx, 25xxxx, 26xxxx respectively
Krishnagiri (+91 4343): 2xxxx, 3xxxx, 4xxxx, 5xxxx, 6xxxx became 22xxxx, 23xxxx, 24xxxx, 25xxxx, 26xxxx respectively
See document link via BSNL: Change in the No's of Dharmapuri Telecom Dist..
Denkanikottah (+91 4347): 3xxxx became 23xxxx
Palacode (+91 4348): 2xxxx, 3xxxx, 4xxxx became 22xxxx, 23xxxx, 24xxxx respectively
See document link via BSNL: Change in the No's of Dharmapuri Telecom Dist..
Place Code ===== ==== Adilabad +91 8732 Anantapur +91 8554 Chittoor +91 8572 Cuddapah +91 8562 Eluru +91 8812 Guntur +91 863 Hyderabad +91 40 Karimnagar +91 8722 Khammam +91 8742 Kurnool +91 8518 Mahabubnagar +91 8542 Nalgonda +91 8682 Nellore +91 861 Nizamabad +91 8462 Ongole +91 8592 Rajahmundry +91 883 Sangareddy +91 8455 (Patancheru) Srikakulam +91 8942 Vijayawada +91 866 Visakhapatnam +91 891 Vizianagaram +91 8922 Warangal +91 8712An exception for Tata Tele services: the leading digit '6' in fixed subscriber numbers was replaced by '55' and Mobitel subscriber numbers were prepended by '5'.
In Hyderabad (+91 40), there was permissive dialling of old numbers until 10-12 December 2002 as follows:
Old format New format Permissive calling ended ========== ========== ======================== 2xxxxxx 22xxxxxx 10 December 2002 3xxxxxx 23xxxxxx 11 December 2002 7xxxxxx 27xxxxxx 12 December 2002Sources: BSNL Release, Hotfoon.
Bhiwandi (+91 2522), Dahanu (+91 2528), Murbad (+91 2524), Shahapur (+91 2527), and Talasari (+91 2521): '2' was prepended to 5-digit subscriber numbers
Alternate (non-MTNL) operators in Vasai area: initial subscriber digit '8' replaced by '56': e.g. 88xxxx becomes 568xxxx.
See http://mumbai.mtnl.net.in/changekalyan.html
Changes in Guwahati (+91 361) were implemented prior to 9 November 2002, presumably by prepending '2' to existing subscriber numbers.
Source: BSNL Release.
Place Old code New code New subscriber number ===== ======== ======== ===================== Karimnagar +91 8722 +91 878 22 + xxxxxx Tirupathi +91 8574 +91 877 22 + xxxxxx Warangal +91 8712 +91 870 2 + xxxxxxxIn Bhimili area, the first two digits '89' were replaced by '22'.
Source: BSNL Release
For other existing subscriber numbers under carrier BSNL in these places, digit '2' is prepended.
Source: announcement from Hughes Tele.com (now Tata Teleservices)>
'2' was prepended to most existing 7-digit subscriber numbers except for ranges in the following list:
Subscriber Number formats Existing New ======== ========= 23x xxxx 563x xxxx 25x xxxx 205x xxxx (Garuda / WLL - Wireless Local Loop) 46x xxxx 566x xxxx 595 xxxx 5595 xxxx 596 xxxx 5596 xxxx 597 xxxx 5597 xxxx 598 xxxx 5598 xxxx 599 xxxx 5599 xxxx 69x xxxx 569x xxxx 79x xxxx 559x xxxxSee:
1. MTNL Change to 8 Digit document.
2. Item via BSNL: Number change leaves some in city 'engaged'.
3. Item via BSNL: Mumbai phones to have 8 numbers from midnight.
4. Item via BSNL: Magic number: MTNL's capacity jumps 10-fold.
5. Item via Hotfoon.
Some numbers in the Palayamkottai neighbourhood were reportedly changed completely - that is, the existing subscriber numbers of format 5xxxxx did not necessarily retain their final digits for this change, although Palayamkottai subscriber numbers should now be 7-digit numbers of format 25xxxxx.
Subscriber numbers in the Ambasamudram, Nanguneri, Sankarankoil, Tenkasi and Vallioor areas were already 6 digits, but the leading digit was changed to '2'.
Summary of Tirunelveli changes:
Place (CC/area code) Old format New format ===================== ========== ========== Ambasamudram (+91 4634) 4xxxxx 2xxxxx Nanguneri (+91 4635) 5xxxxx 2xxxxx Sankarankovil (+91 4636) 4xxxxx 2xxxxx Tenkasi (+91 4633) 3xxxxx 2xxxxx Tirunelveli (+91 462) xxxxxx 2xxxxxx Vallioor (+91 4637) 5xxxxx 2xxxxxSee BSNL item on Tirunelveli changes.
Place Code ===== ==== Jammu +91 191 Rajouri +91 1962 Srinagar +91 194 Udhampur +91 1992Source: BSNL Release
Place Code ===== ==== Balaghat +91 7632 Betul +91 7141 Bhopal +91 755 Chhatarpur +91 7682 Chhindwara +91 7162 Damoh +91 7812 Dewas +91 7272 Dhar +91 7292 Guna +91 7542 Gwalior +91 751 Indore +91 731 Itarsi +91 7572 Jabalpur +91 761 Jhabua +91 7392 Khandwa +91 733 Khargone +91 7282 Morena +91 7532 Narasinghpur +91 7792 Panna +91 7732 Raisen +91 7482 Rajgarh +91 7372 Ratlam +91 7412 Rewa +91 7662 Sagar +91 7582 Satna +91 7672 Seoni +91 7692 Shahdol +91 7652 Shujapur +91 7360 Shivpuri +91 7492 Sidhi +91 7822 Ujjain +91 734 Vidisha +91 7592Source: BSNL Release
Place Code ===== ==== Ahmednagar +91 241 Akola +91 724 Bhandara +91 7184 Chandrapur +91 7172 Jalgaon +91 257 Kalyan +91 251 Kunal +91 ??? Nasik +91 253 Osmanabad +91 2472 Panaji +91 832 Parbhani +91 2452 Sangli +91 233 Sholapur +91 217 Wardha +91 7152Source: BSNL Release
Place Code ===== ==== Balangir +91 6652 (also +91 6658?) Bhawanipatna +91 6670 Bhubaneshwar +91 674 Cuttack +91 671 Dhenkanal +91 6762 Koraput +91 6852 Phulbani +91 6842 Sambalpur +91 663Source: BSNL Release
Place Code ===== ==== Amritsar +91 183 Bhatinda +91 164 Ferozepur +91 1632 Hoshiarpur +91 1882 Jalandhar +91 181 Ludhiana +91 161 Pathankot +91 186Source: BSNL Release
Place Code ===== ==== Agra +91 562 Aligarh +91 571 Bareilly +91 581 Bijnore +91 1342 Badaun +91 5832 Etah +91 5742 Ghaziabad +91 120 Meerut +91 121 Mathura +91 565 Moradabad +91 591 Muzaffarnagar +91 131 Pilibhit +91 5882 Rampur +91 595 Saharanpur +91 132Source: BSNL Release
'2' was prepended to subscriber numbers in these Rajasthan area places:
Place Code ===== ==== Ajmer +91 145 Bundi +91 747 Bikaner +91 151 Chittorgarh +91 1472 Jaipur +91 141 Jhalawar +91 7432 Kota +91 744 Sawaimadhopur +91 7462 Sikar +91 1572 Sirohi +91 2972 Sriganganagar +91 154 Tonk +91 1432 Udaipur +91 294Source: BSNL Release
Digit '2' was prepended to the following places, but no date was indicated (Hotfoon lists some places whose details are covered elsewhere):
Place Code ===== ==== Chidambaram +91 4144 Cuddalore +91 4142 Polur +91 4181 Pondicherry +91 413 Vaniyambadi +91 4174 Villupuram +91 4146
Leading subscriber number digits indicate the carrier as follows:
'2': BSNL, MTNL
'3': Reliance Infocomm
'5': some reports suggest Bharti Telenet would be assigned this, although leading '5' is seen in other recent assignments.
Source: article via BSNL: Reliance Info gets prefix '3' for its basic number.
Place Old code ===== ======== Anekal +91 8110 Attibele +91 8116 Channapatna +91 8113 Devanahalli +91 8119 Doddaballapur +91 8119 Hebbagodi +91 8114 Hoskote +91 8111 Kanakapura +91 8117 Magadi +91 8118 Nelamangala +91 8118 Ramanagaram +91 8113 Whitefield +91 8112Information from Ned Lambert:
"An example [domestic format] would be at Doddaballapur the old 5 digit number (08119) 2-1234 became (080) 762-1234. After just two years it has now become (080) 2762-1234 under the new national numbering plan.
It would also appear that by freeing up the entire 811X [area code] series here and the Ahmedabad area's 271X series, these could be sometime in the future re-used as 271 and 811 for example for other areas."
See Tribune India report.
More information in a consultation document by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) (national telecom regulator).
Another article on the national 10-digit plan appeared in Tribune India (September 1998).
A Telecom News item from Vital Communications reported that India was to move to a 10-digit national numbering plan (area code plus subscriber number) in November 1998. However, that news item is no longer available on line.
Old Name New Name Area ======== ======== ==== Bombay Mumbai +91 22 Calcutta Kolkata +91 33 Madras Chennai +91 44(with tips from Ned Lambert)
"India had already converted a few middle range areas to 7 digits several years ago; however, the 3 digit area codes were retained making them actually the first 10 digit areas in compliance with the recent changes. One is Surat (+91 261) and not all of its prefixes begin with a "2" nor can they be made to do so as they have a lot of prefixes and it is harder than finding hen's teeth to come up with a new area code in India, so I haven't a clue as to what will happen in Surat."
In Gujarat state (Ahmedabad region): Gandhinagar and surrounding communities were merged into +91 79 (Ahmedabad): Barwala (+91 2711), Gandhinagar (+91 2712), Dhanduka (+91 2713), Dholka (+91 2714), Viramgam (+91 2715), Dehgam (+91 2716), Sanand (+91 2717) and Bareja (+91 2718). Gandhinagar is the state capital and is approximately 15 miles from the state's largest city, Ahmedabad. Subscriber numbers were extended from 5 to 7 digits; the late 2002 national renumbering subsequently expanded subscriber numbers to 8 digits.
(information courtesy Ned Lambert)
These area codes are near the Delhi Metro area (+91 11). To avoid long distance changes from using conventional STD dialling, local access prefixes '91' (and sometimes '92') were once dialled before the area code and subscriber number. Today, the local access prefix is '95'.
(courtesy Ned Lambert)
I also found that some WLL (wireless in local loop) cellulars are popping up in some areas of India usually found in a few of the more major cities now, but soon to blossom like gangbusters. It is similar to the N.American plan where cells and wires share the same area codes although a lot more cells are currently on separate area codes such as mobile 98-xxx-xxxxx and pagers on 96xx-xxxxxx.(Both add up to 10).
In the case of Bangalore (80) these WLL are on different prefixes like 6xx-xxxx. These are now changed to 8 digits by changing the "6" to "55". For example 666-1234 has become 5566-1234.
India's STD (standard trunk dialling) code system has traditionally seen incremental changes through the 1990s. That is, a limited number of area code changes and additions tended to be made at any given time.
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