In an effort to relieve the overwhelming amount of 416/437/647 area codes in Toronto, the federal government has introduced a new area code, 942.
The new code will take effect on April 26, 2025 after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved the date last week.
This comes after the CRTC said the city is expected to exhaust the three current area codes, 416, 437 and 647, by April 2026.
“This timing also provides telephone service providers and customers the necessary time to implement the new area code into their systems, databases and telecommunications equipment,” the CRTC said in a report published Wednesday.
The report also says British Columbia is also going to be provided with a new area code of 257, which will roll out on May 24, 2025.
HISTORY OF AREA CODES
The 416 area code was implemented for Southern Ontario residents in 1947. The 416 area code was one of the original 86 area codes created by telecom providers, AT&T and the Bell System.
In 2001, the city started using the 647 area code.
More than a decade later, Toronto received a new area code of 437 in 2013.
The announcement of the 942 area code marks the third time a new area code will be created in the 416 zone.
