London getting new 548 area code this week

A new 548 area code is being introduced to most of southwestern Ontario, including London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford, Sarnia, Woodstock, Stratford and Owen Sound. (Canadian Numbering Administrator)

A new 548 area code is coming to London and other locations in southwestern Ontario this week.

The new digits will be distributed to regions currently using area codes 226 and 519 in southwestern Ontario.

The new area code is the result of a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission decision and is intended to meet the continuously growing demand for new telephone numbers.

“The introduction of a new area code creates millions of additional telephone numbers without affecting existing numbers,” said Glen Brown, spokesperson for the Canadian Numbering Administrator in a news release.

The new area code will be available starting June 4. After this date, residents and businesses requesting a new phone number may get a number with the 548 area code.

Numbers with the new area code will only be assigned to customers when the existing supply of 226 and 519 numbers is depleted.

The introduction of a new area code in a region does not affect the local calling areas or the way long distance calls are dialed. Special numbers like 911 will still be dialed using only three digits.

The 226 and 519 area codes cover most of southwestern Ontario, including London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford, Sarnia, Woodstock, Stratford and Owen Sound.