Residents in north and central Louisiana must now dial ten digits when calling within the 318 area code.
The change, which took effect Monday, requires callers to use the 318 area code along with the seven-digit number. The Louisiana Public Service Commission said the shift is needed to prepare for the addition of a new 457 area code next year.
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell said the change was unavoidable. “People will get used to it, but it is inconvenient,” Campbell said. “There’s nothing we can do about it because we have too many people in 318, so they had to change it.”
Beginning Sept. 25, newly assigned phone numbers in the region will carry the 457 area code. To ensure the two codes work together, all local calls within 318 now require ten-digit dialing.
“It’s going to be a pain in the seat, a little bit, but we’ll have to get used to it,” Campbell said.
Officials said the new area code was necessary because the supply of seven-digit numbers in 318 had been exhausted.
