Technical Overview of Phone Numbers in Canada

Quick Reference

• Country: Canada
• Country Code: +1
• International Prefix: 011
• National Prefix: 1
• Regulatory Authority: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

Overview

Discover the intricacies of Canada's telephone numbering system, including number structures, dialing procedures, and regulatory updates. This guide is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators working with Canadian phone numbers.

Canadian Numbering Plan

Structure of Canadian Phone Numbers

• Country Code: +1
• Area Codes: 3-digit codes, with over 40 active area codes.
• Subscriber Number: 7-digit local number.
• Total Length: 10 digits (excluding the country code).

Number Formats

Type	Format	Example	Description
Geographic	NXX-NXX-XXXX	416-555-1234	Standard format where N is any digit from 2-9, and X is any digit from 0-9.
Mobile	NXX-NXX-XXXX	647-555-1234	Mobile numbers follow the same format as landline numbers.
Toll-Free	800/888/877/866-NXX-XXXX	800-555-1234	Toll-free numbers start with 800, 888, 877, 866, etc.
Premium Rate	900-NXX-XXXX	900-555-1234	Premium-rate numbers begin with 900 and incur additional charges.
Emergency	911	911	The emergency number in Canada.
Special Services	310-XXXX	310-1234	Used for non-geographic services, typically provided by specific operators.

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

• General Format:

  ^\+1[2-9]\d{2}[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

  Validates a Canadian phone number with the country code, area code, and subscriber number.

• Toll-Free Numbers:

  ^\+1(800|888|877|866|855|844|833|822)[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

  Validates Canadian toll-free numbers.

• Premium Rate Numbers:

  ^\+1900[2-9]\d{2}\d{4}$
  

  Validates Canadian premium-rate numbers.

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 1, followed by the 10-digit phone number.

  • Example: 1-416-555-1234

• Landline to Mobile: Same as landline to landline.

  • Example: 1-647-555-1234

• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 10-digit phone number directly.

  • Example: 416-555-1234

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 011, followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number.

  • Example: 011-44-20-7123-4567 (for a call to the UK)

• Incoming: Dial +1, followed by the 10-digit phone number.

  • Example: +1-416-555-1234

Recent and Upcoming Changes to the Numbering Plan

• Overlay Area Codes:
  • 559/357 Overlay: Effective Q1 2025, the 559 area code will be overlaid with 357.
  • 213/323 Overlay: The 738 area code will overlay 213/323 starting August 2024.

Number Portability in Canada

Number portability is fully implemented, allowing both mobile and fixed-line numbers to be ported between carriers. This service has been available since 2007.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Area Codes	Description
Bell Canada	Various across Ontario and Quebec	One of the largest telecom operators in Canada.
Rogers Communications	Various, including 416, 647	Major operator providing mobile and fixed-line services.
Telus	Various, including 250, 604, 780	Leading operator in Western Canada.
Freedom Mobile	647, 437, 778	Focuses on mobile services in urban areas.
Videotron	438, 514	Operates primarily in Quebec.

ITU-T Standards Relevant to Canada

The Canadian numbering plan adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, defining the international public telecommunication numbering plan.

Number Allocation and Management

The Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium (CNAC) manages numbering resources under the oversight of the CRTC. The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) also plays a role in management across North America.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Certain memorable numbers may be in higher demand.
• Number Blocking: Users can block specific numbers via their telecom provider.

Technical Considerations for Developers

When working with Canadian phone numbers, consider:

• Validation: Use regular expressions to validate numbers.
• Portability: Implement logic to handle number portability.
• Time Zones: Canada spans multiple time zones, important for scheduling automated calls.
• Area Code Exhaustion: Monitor updates from CNAC and NANPA regarding new overlays.