Mobile lines registered in Brazil’s São Paulo area, which includes 64 municipalities, will have one digit added starting June 29, 2012, the Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel announced. The measure aims to expand the numbering resources to meet the growing demand.

Telecom operators are responsible for the implementation of this new digit, as well as for all expenses related to new rule. Anatel estimates that carriers’ investments to make the necessary adjustments are about US $172.06 million (R$ 300 million).

Currently, there are 32.5 million lines in São Paulo and today’s capacity only allows for 44 million connections, which would not be enough. By adding a new digit, the potential will rise to 90 million numbers.

>>> Watch the press meeting held in Brazil’s capital Brasília [video in Portuguese].

The measure was set to begin in December this year, but the agency decided to accelerate it. “This region is one of the most dynamic markets in Brazil,” said Anatel’s president, João Rezende.

Today, mobile phones all over Brazil have eight digits plus a two digit area code. In São Paulo, the digit 9 (nine) will be added to the left of the current eight digit numbers of each mobile phone in area 11, which includes the state capital of São Paulo metropolitan region and municipalities, among others. (check here all of them). There will be a transition period after July 29. After that, the 8-digit dialed calls will not be completed.

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