Background on Singapore's New 8-Digit Phone Numbering Format

28 September 2001

Fixed-line telephone numbers in Singapore will move to an 8-digit format on 1 March 2002, when all numbers will be prefixed with the digit '6'. The migration to the 8-digit numbering plan has been advanced to 2002, from the originally-planned date of 2004. Full telecommunication liberalisation in April 2000 has led to rapid growth of the market, resulting in increased demand for numbers. The implementation of the 8-digit numbering plan ensures that there will be a sufficient number resource pool to cater to the expanding range of telecommunication services and users.

Implementation Schedule of 8-digit Numbering Plan

Local Calls
1 March 2002	All 7-digit fixed-line telephone numbers will be prefixed with a '6'.
1 March 2002 - 31 March 2002	Parallel-run of 7 and 8-digit numbers, i.e. callers who dial the 7-digit numbers will still be connected.
1 April 2002 - 30 June 2002	Parallel run ends, only calls to the 8-digit numbers will be connected. Callers who dial the 7-digit numbers will hear a change number announcement in 4 languages, after which the calls will be disconnected. They will then have to re-dial with the additional '6'.
After 30 June 2002	Callers who dial the 7-digit numbers will be disconnected with a service-unavailable tone.

Overseas calls to Singapore
1 March 2002 - 31 August 2002	Parallel run of 7 and 8-digit numbers, i.e. callers who dial the 7-digit numbers will still be connected to Singapore.
1 September 2002 - 28 Febuary 2003	Overseas callers who dial the 7-digit numbers will hear a change number announcement in English, after which the calls will be disconnected. They will then have to re-dial with the additional '6'.