Ten-digit dialling not likely to pose any major problem, says business leader
PRIVATE-SECTOR leaders say that their organisations are prepared to integrate the 10-digit telephone dialling sequence that is due to come on stream later this year along with the introduction of a new international area code number ‘658’. The current area code, ‘876’, is almost exhausted and requires an additional code, or NPA (numbering plan area), which will come into effect at midnight on May 31, 2018.
The change effectively makes the dialling of local numbers a mandatory 10-digit exercise (the three-digit area code plus the last seven digits of the phone number). While this promises to bring Jamaica in line with most of the world, it, no doubt, will create some amount of disruption, primarily to the business sector, according to Elizabeth Bennett Marsh, spokesperson for the Office of Utilities Regulations.
IMPACT ON BUSINESSES
“The greatest impact, I think, will be on businesses because they have, for example, their private branch exchange (PBX) systems, which will need to be reconfigured,” Bennett Marsh said. PBX is a private telephone network used within a company or organisation.
However, Howard Mitchell, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, believes that the changes are unlikely to pose any major disruptions. He said that with most people using smartphones that are capable of adjusting to specific commands as well as other smart technology, getting accustomed to a 10-digit dialling sequence should be of little concern.
“I do not see a big issue with this. My personal view is that individuals and companies would have had to make the necessary change to become comfortable with this new system. I feel that many persons already have an idea of this,” Mitchell told The Gleaner.
Similarly, Don Wehby, chief executive officer of the Grace Kennedy Group, anticipates no problems.
“We are prepared for the transition and do not expect any disruption,” Wehby said. “Our teams have already done an impact assessment, and our current focus is on participating in the education effort by sharing information about the new dialling format with our more than 1,800 staff worldwide,” he added.