Area Codes For New Brunswick, Canada

The area code for New Brunswick, Canada, is 506. This area code has been serving the entire province since 1955 and is currently the only area code that does so. However, as the 506 area code is reaching capacity, a new area code, 428, was introduced in April 2023. This new area code will coexist with the 506 area code, and new phone numbers will be assigned the 428 code once the 506 inventory runs out.

The area code for New Brunswick is 506

New Brunswick's area code is one of nine area codes originally assigned to Canada in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). In 1947, the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) published the results of a new telephone numbering plan for the North American continent. This unified all existing local numbering systems into what later became the NANP. The Maritimes provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) were designated as a single numbering plan area (NPA) with the area code 902.

In 1955, New Brunswick was split from the numbering plan area, and area code 506 was created. This configuration existed until 1962, when Newfoundland was assigned a different area code, leaving New Brunswick as a distinct numbering plan area with area code 506.

In 2023, a new area code, 428, was introduced in New Brunswick alongside the existing 506 area code. This change was implemented due to the increasing demand for phone numbers in the region, and as a result, 10-digit local dialling became mandatory. Residents and businesses were encouraged to reprogram their equipment and devices to include the area code for all local calls.

The addition of the new area code means that New Brunswick now has a large supply of new phone numbers, and seven-digit dialling is no longer possible. The 506 area code was expected to face numbering exhaustion in 2020, but this was delayed until 2023. The new 428 area code will be assigned to customers when the existing inventory of 506 numbers is depleted.

New Brunswick's area code was created in 1955

The Maritimes provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) were designated as a single numbering plan area in 1947 when the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) published the results of the design of a new telephone numbering plan for the North American continent. This unified all existing local numbering systems into what later became the North American Numbering Plan, with the goal of automating the expanding toll call routing.

In 1955, New Brunswick and Newfoundland were split off from the numbering plan area, with area code 506. This configuration existed until 1962, when Newfoundland was assigned area code 709, leaving New Brunswick as a distinct numbering plan area with area code 506.

In 2023, a new area code, 428, was added to New Brunswick, and it now coexists with the original 506 area code. This addition was necessary as the 506 area code was reaching capacity. The new area code will only be assigned when the existing inventory of 506 numbers runs out.

The area code for New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the United States, is not 506.

New Brunswick's area code reaches capacity in 2023

New Brunswick's area code 506 reached capacity in 2023, resulting in the introduction of a new area code, 428, and a transition to 10-digit dialling for local calls. This change came into effect on April 29, 2023, and was implemented to address the depletion of available phone numbers in the original area code.

New Brunswick's Area Code History

New Brunswick, a Canadian province, has utilised the area code 506 since 1955, when it was created through a split of numbering plan area (NPA) 902. Initially, this area code served both New Brunswick and Newfoundland, but in 1962, Newfoundland was assigned a separate area code, 709, leaving New Brunswick as a distinct numbering plan area.

Reaching Capacity

In 2020, it was anticipated that the 506 area code would reach numbering exhaustion, and an overlay plan was proposed to address this issue. The new area code, 428, was intended to be introduced in November 2020, with a permissive ten-digit dialling period starting in May of that year. However, the depletion of numbers in the 506 area code occurred later than expected, and the implementation of the new area code was postponed several times.

Transition to 10-Digit Dialling

The addition of the 428 area code in New Brunswick signalled a transition to 10-digit dialling for local calls. Starting on January 20, 2023, residents and businesses were required to dial the area code followed by the seven-digit phone number for all local calls. This change affected everyone in the province and applied to various communication devices, including landlines, cellphones, auto-dialers, computers, and alarm systems.

Ensuring a Smooth Transition

To ensure a smooth transition, the Telecommunications Alliance, a group of major Canadian communications companies, led a public awareness campaign. They recommended that people start using 10-digit dialling for local calls ahead of the January 20, 2023 deadline. Additionally, they advised residents and businesses to add the 506 area code to programmed numbers in all their communication devices and equipment. This proactive approach helped to minimise inconveniences and potential disruptions to data transmission that could have occurred during the transition.

Coexistence of Area Codes

As of April 29, 2023, the new area code, 428, began coexisting with the original 506 area code. Those with 506 area codes retained their phone numbers, and the 428 area code will only be assigned when the existing inventory of 506 numbers is fully depleted. This approach ensures a gradual transition and helps to minimise disruptions for residents and businesses in New Brunswick.

New Brunswickers will need to dial 10 digits for local calls

New Brunswick's area code is 506, and it covers the entire province. However, as the 506 area code reaches capacity, a new area code, 428, was introduced in 2023. This means that New Brunswickers now need to dial 10 digits for all local calls, including the area code and the seven-digit phone number. This change took effect on January 20, 2023, and affects all residents and businesses in the province.

The addition of the new area code is a result of a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision. The new area code will coexist with the current 506 area code, and those with 506 area codes will keep their original phone numbers. The 428 area code will only be assigned when the existing inventory of 506 numbers runs out.

To ensure a smooth transition, residents and businesses were advised to reprogram their communications equipment, including landlines, cellphones, auto-dialers, computers, alarm systems, and lifeline equipment, to include the area code for all local calls. The Telecommunications Alliance, a group of major Canadian communications companies, led a campaign to inform and assist people in New Brunswick about the change.

The change to 10-digit dialing in New Brunswick is similar to what other provinces and states have implemented in recent years, such as Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, which transitioned to 10-digit dialing in 2014.

The new area code for New Brunswick is 428

The 428 area code will only be assigned to customers when the existing inventory of 506 numbers is depleted. The 506 area code was first put in service on January 1, 1955, and was expected to face numbering exhaustion in 2020. This was later delayed until April 2023, and the implementation of the new 428 area code was postponed until April 29, 2023.

The introduction of the new area code means that residents and businesses in New Brunswick now need to dial 10 digits – the area code followed by the seven-digit phone number – for all local calls. This change was mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in October 2021, and came into effect on January 20, 2023.

The Telecommunications Alliance, a group of major Canadian communications companies, has been leading a campaign to inform residents and businesses about the change to 10-digit local dialing and the new area code. They recommend that people reprogram their equipment to include the area code for all local calls, to ensure a successful transition.

Frequently asked questions