Manitoba could soon run out of phone numbers. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) believes area code 204 will be at capacity by January 2011.
The federal regulator says more cell phones, fax machines, and computer services have increased demand for phone numbers.
Some possible solutions include:
Separating an area code into two parts or codes, as has been done in the greater Toronto area
Giving out an entirely new area code as BC has done.
In both places callers must dial 10 digits to make a local call.
MTS Allstream is downplaying the concern saying for now everyone who needs a 204 phone number will get one.
