Are there any plans to increase the length of telephone numbers again?
Adding a digit to telephone numbers increases the capacity of a numbering system, and is usually triggered by exhaustion, or expected exhaustion, of the numbering resources. At present there is no need to increase number lengths as there are sufficient numbers available to meet Australia’s current and foreseeable future numbering needs. In addition, the release of new number ranges (when available) provides a means of increasing numbering capacity without the need to increase number length. The release of new number ranges such as the (02) 8 range in Sydney and the (03) 8 range in Melbourne substantially increases the amount of numbers available for allocation. Phone companies who have been allocated new numbers by the ACMA must endeavour to ensure that phone users are adequately informed about the change so as to prevent consumer confusion and/or problems dialling the new numbers.
