BELL INDUSTRY ADVISORY

Announcement

New Area Code for the 514 Area

Bell Canada announces the introduction of the new 450 area code effective approximately July 1998, as a solution to telephone number congestion in the 514 area.

The addition of a new area code is being triggered by strong demand for telephone numbers, primarily due to the introduction of local competition, to the rapid growth of the wireless telephone industry and the increased use of modems, Internet and Fax services. According to our projections, the 514 area code will be depleted by early 1999. Consequently, the new area code is to be introduced approximately in July 1998.

Following consultation meetings with telecommunications industry members, Industry Canada and the CRTC, it was agreed that a geographic split would be used to relieve the area code 514.

Montréal Urban Community territory (Island of Montréal, Nun’s Island, Île Perrot, Île Bizard, St. Helen’s Island and Notre-Dame Island) will retain the 514 area code, while all other parts of the current 514 region will be assigned the NPA code 450. Local calls between the two area codes will require 10-digit dialing (the area code followed by the telephone number); however, for local calls within the same area code, customers will continue to use 7-digit dialing.

Compatibility Impact:

There will be a permissive dialing period of 6 months beginning approximately July 1^st , 1998, during which both 7- and 10-digit dialing will be permitted between the NPA 450 and NPA 514.

Documentation:

None required.

For further information on the service, please contact: