Uganda’s Mobile Phone Number to Be Extended to 9 Digits

Uganda’s mobile phone number to be extended to 9 digits

KAMPALA, July 29 (Xinhua) — Uganda’s mobile phone networks are to add an extra digit on all telephone lines to accommodate the increasing number of mobile phone subscribers in the east African country.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of Uganda Communication’s Commission (UCC), Fred Otunnu, told Xinhua by telephone on Friday that the telephone companies anticipated that they may run short of numbers if an extra digit is not added.

He said that instead of introducing new network codes they have decided to add a digit.

Every mobile phone subscriber will now have to dial an extra digit in addition to the six digits to make a call.

Otunnu noted that the network area codes will remain unchanged but the subscriber numbers on all networks will be adjusted to result in a significant number length of 9 digits.

Otunnu said that the implementation of the new numbering will start by November 1, 2005.

Uganda has got three mobile phone companies, Mobile Telecommunication Network, Celtel and the Uganda Telecom’s Mango.

According to the UCC, the number of mobile phone subscribers in Uganda is over 1 million.