Japan is working out of cell phone numbers and should quickly roll out a brand new prefix for the primary time in additional than a decade.
Numbers beginning with 060 might be obtainable as early as December, in accordance with the Ministry of Inner Affairs and Communications.
Cell phone numbers in Japan at the moment have 090, 080 and 070 prefixes. Solely 5.3 million 070 numbers stay, whereas all usable 090 and 080 numbers have been assigned.
In accordance with the Telecommunications Carriers Affiliation, Japan had 212 million cell phone subscriptions as of March 2024, up from 140 million a decade earlier.
Starting in 1999, cell phone numbers in Japan had been 11-digit numbers beginning with 090. With the recognition of flip telephones, numbers with that prefix had been rapidly exhausted, and 080 numbers had been launched in March 2002.
Smartphones helped drive continued fast uptake, and 070 numbers had been made obtainable in November 2013.
In accordance with World Financial institution knowledge, Japan has had multiple mobile subscription per particular person since 2011.
With the introduction of the brand new prefixes, as many as 90 million new numbers can be attainable.
Early indications are that 060 can be accepted by customers and won’t face vital resistance. In accordance with on-line posts, larger prefixes are usually related to older individuals and may be thought of much less cool.
Whereas a 090 quantity may give a way of being established, youthful Japanese smartphone customers are usually amenable or detached to the newer, decrease prefixes, on-line feedback recommend.
To arrange for the distribution of 060 numbers, the ministry arrange a council on Wednesday and can take public feedback till the start of November.
A closing choice can be made by the ministry primarily based on opinions from the council and the general public, and 060 numbers might be obtainable as early as mid-December.