Globe to implement 8-digit landline format in March

Globe is set to implement the eight-digit landline format in Metro Manila and neighboring areas starting March 18, 2019.

In compliance with the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Ayala-led telco said all telephone numbers of its customers in Greater Metro Manila with 02 area code will move to an eight-digit format.

“This directive is to ensure there will be sufficient resource pool to cater to the rapid growth of landline customers in major cities,” Globe said.

The NTC issued Memorandum Order 10-10-2017 in October last year directing all telecommunications companies in the Philippines to migrate all customers within the area code 02 to eight-digit telephone numbers, from the existing seven digits, not later than March 31, 2019.

The commission assigned a public telecommunications entity (PTE) identifier for telecom operators as an additional prefix in expanding from seven-digit to eight-digit landline number.

The assigned PTE identifier for Globe and its subsidiary Innove is 7.

“For instance, a Globe customer with existing landline or DUO number of (02)576-4567 will have to change his or her number to (02)7576-4567 come March 18, 2019,” it explained.

Globe said it is exhausting all means to ensure smooth service continuity for all affected customers.

“We are working closely with the NTC and other telcos to assist affected customers before, during and after the migration. We would like to see all our customers being aware of this change before it comes into effect,” Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said.

For a period of three months after the migration or from March 18, 2019 to June 17, 2019, Globe said customers who will still incorrectly dial the old seven-digit number will hear a special announcement, saying the format has been changed to eight-digit.

Globe said it would also remind its customers three months before the migration through all available channels, including SMS, email, and social media.

“NTC and local telcos scheduled the migration on March 18, 2019 from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. During the migration, affected customers may experience downtime as telcos utilize this period to update their system to an eight-digit numbering format,” the company said.