The guiding document envisages introduction of nine digit telephone numbers in telecommunication networks in Uzbekistan, the information service of the Uzbek committee said.

At use of nine digit numbers, the same telephone numbers will be dialed at making internal and international calls. In other words, nine digit number will be dialed at calling to subscriber in one city or in other region or to fixed telephone of mobile phone.

Currently, subscriber from Tashkent dials seven numbers to make call to another subscriber in Tashkent city. At the same time, subscribe dials 8 and three number prefix of the region (for example 373 for Ferghana region) and seven digit phone number. If the subscribers call to mobile number, they dial 8 code of operator 59X and seven digit phone number.

In case of international incoming call, foreign callers should dial prefix for international code, code of Uzbekistan – 998 and two digit zonal prefix number (73 for Ferghana region or 90 for Beeline) and afterwards seven digit phone number.

Two digit regional prefix is dialed when the subscriber makes call to other city and three digit regional prefix for international calls, which create inconvenience for users.

The committee said that in many European or Asian states, the users dial 0 or 00 to make international calls. France has single numeration system at its telecommunication networks.

The Uzbek committee said that transfer to nine digit numbers will be conducted stage-by-stage.

First of all, two digit and three digit numbers of special services in Karakalpakstan and other regions (such as anti-fire service, police, medical service, etc) starting with 0 will be transferred to three or four digit numbers starting with 1. Tashkent city already moved to this format.

After transfer of numbers of special service new formats, international call prefix will be changed to 00 from current 8 and 10 and to calls to other cities within Uzbekistan – to 0 from 8.

The committee said once this stage will be completed, Uzbekistan will introduce nine digit numbers with use of two digit zonal prefixes and codes of mobile operators 9X.

All regions and mobile operators will keep their zonal codes of numeration and identification. Navoi region will be exception as it will get code 79 instead of 436.

New numeration will help subscribers to easily identify region and operator of the caller. It will also help to solve problem of auto redial.

The committee said that citizens of Uzbekistan should not worry from transfer to nine digit telephone numbers and the process will be conducted smoothly. The subscribers will keep their numbers, but in future two numbers will be added to their telephone number. All changes will be announced in due course.