Overseas Départements (DOM) to switch to 10-digit numbers

Paris, 26 July 2000

On 15 December 2000 in Reunion, and on 22 June 2001 in Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique, the numbering plan will become a homogenous 10-digit plan as has already been the case in Metropolitan France for three and a half years:

• The current situation in DOM

When the 10-digit numbering plan was adopted on 18 October 1996, citizens of DOM were allowed to continue using the former 6-digit numbers when telephoning within an Overseas Département, along with the new 10-digit numbers.

• Why change now?

Since 1996, the rapid development of telecommunications in these départements has led to huge consumption of number resources. Therefore, it is now necessary to increase the potential number of numbers.

It is also necessary to conform with international recommendations which stipulate that international numbers must have the form: international call prefix of the caller's country + country code + significant national number.

• Application schedule of the new plan

• General characteristics of the plan

- Six-digit numbers used within a single département will be eliminated

• As of 15 December 2000 in Reunion (on this first measure)
• as of 22 June 2001 in Guadeloupe, Guyana and Martinique

Fixed subscribers will keep the 10-digit numbers they have today.

- The current country codes of the four overseas départements (DOM) (262 for Reunion, 590 for Guadeloupe, 594 for Guyana and 596 for Martinique) will be kept. Given the period required for the operation and the technical problems it would cause neighbouring countries telecoms operators, Metropolitan France's country code (33) cannot be used.

- Current clients of mobile networks and those subscribing before 22 June 2001, will be allocated—in addition to their current numbers—numbers with the form 06ABPQMCDU in which the last seven digits are the same as the old number. This will be applied for four months. After this time, clients will be able to use only their new number (i.e. 06ABPQMCDU). As of 23 June 2001, new mobile clients will be assigned a number with the form 06ABPQMCDU.

- Calls from foreign countries are modified (see table on the next page).

- Special numbers with the form 1X, 11X and 10XY will remain unchanged.

- Short numbers with the form 36PQ and numbers with the form 083BPQ will also remain unchanged.

The table below summarizes the various numbering modes according to the location of the caller and call recipient beginning 22 June 2001.

To call within a single DOM

• if today, you dial PQ MC DU or 02 62 PQ MC DU (e.g. in Reunion)
• beginning 22 June 2001, you will dial 02 62 PQ MC DU or 06 92 PQ MC DU (to call a cell phone from Reunion)

To call from one DOM to another DOM

• if today, you dial 02 62 PQ MC DU (for example)
• beginning 22 June 2001, you will dial 02 62 PQ MC DU (to call a number in Reunion) or 06 92 PQ MC DU (to call a cell phone from Reunion)

To call from Metropolitan France to a DOM

• if today, you dial 02 62 PQ MC DU
• beginning 22 June 2001, you will dial 02 62 PQ MC DU for a fixed phone or 06 92 PQ MC DU for a mobile phone

To call from a TOM or a foreign country to a DOM

• if today, you dial +262 PQ MC DU (to call a number in Reunion, for example)
• beginning 22 June 2001, you will dial:

+ 262 262 PQ MC DU for Reunion (+262 292 692 PQ MC DU for a mobile)

Other sample numbers beginning 22 June 2001:

+ 590 590 PQ MC DU for Guadeloupe (+590 690 PQ MC DU for a mobile)

+ 594 594 PQ MC DU for Guyana (+594 694 PQ MC DU for a mobile)

+ 596 596 PQ MC DU for Martinique (+596 696 PQ MC DU for a mobile)

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