9-digit phone numbers to be introduced across Moldova

Starting April, a shift will be made from an open to a closed dialing plan, meaning that regardless of whether making a national or a local call, instead of dialing 5 or 6 digits, one will have to dial 9 digits: the 0 prefix + the code of the geographical area + the number proper, according to a decision adopted by the National Communications Agency. Telephony operators are required to make the corresponding technical adjustment until March 1, after which a trial period will be in place until March 15, so that the final shift could be made when the clock strikes 0:00 on April 1. Earlier, the Agency explained that the introduction of the closed plan is due to the rapidly growing demand for numbers from triple-play service providers (that is, television, internet and telephony). In 11 months alone, in Chisinau and Balti there were requested more than 37,000 new numbers, and the Agency expects that this tendency will continue in the next few years as well. The measure will enable the Agency to make available about 8 million new numbers to providers. Such closed dialing plans are also used in many European countries, including Italy, Romania, Latvia, Estonia and others.