Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Cellular phone users will be unable to make phone calls on Saturday April 5 from 12 a.m. - 7a.m., at which time new software will be set up by service providers, said Cayetana Aljovín.

Aljovín, the vice-minister of communications in Peru explained that software was being changed so that the new phone number system would work as planned.

Beginning April 5, cellular phone numbers in Peru will have an extra number, the number "9".

In order to make a phone call, beginning Saturday, users must first dial the number "9" and then the following eight numbers (for people with Lima cell phones).

It was reported that this new number system would create a standard across the country and allow users to keep their number when changing from one service provider to another. This feature will be available when companies adapt to number portability.

All of Peru's cellular phone numbers will now have 9 digits, reported Andina news agency.

According to the Andean country's ministry of communication, these measures are being taken because of the large quantity of cellular phone numbers in use, estimated at 16 million.

It was reported that there were not any more numeric combinations and it was necessary to add another digit.

The last time a digit was added to cellular phone numbers in Peru was in 2003, when there were 2.3 million users.