OREANDA-NEWS. October 05, 2007. The new area code that starts with “7” validated effective from October 5th, 2007. That is, to call to Astana, for example, one has to dial the area code 8-7172 (plus number) instead of dialing 8-3172-(number). The area code of Almaty is now 727(2) in lieu of 327(2), reported the press-centre of Kazaktelecom.

We remind you that these changes to the area codes were introduced two months ago, on August 5, 2007 at 3.00am local time of Astana. The first digits were replaced in all Kazakhstani city and oblast centers’ area codes, specifically “3” was replaced by “7”, with other two digits of the area code remaining unchanged.

The area code within an oblast was also changed. For example, if formally one had to dial 8-2-72-(number of the subscriber) when making a call from Kaskelen to Kapshagai (Almatinskaya oblast), from August 5th, 2007, a new dialing order was introduced by dialing 8-7-72-(number of the subscriber) for this particular direction.

Until October 5, two options of dialing area codes by using both the old and new area codes with “3” and “7” digits at the beginning of the code remained valid so that subscriber could get used to the innovation. From October 5th, all area codes across Kazakhstan start with digit “7” only.

These changes are introduced pursuant to the order of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for informatization and communications. With a view to putting in good order the use of numbering resources of the 7th zone of the worldwide numbering, on June 17, 2006, the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for informatization and communications and the Ministry of information technology and communications of the Russian Federation entered into Agreement on distribution of the numbering resources between Kazakhstan and Russia. To date there are two countries in the 7th zone – Kazakhstan and Russia. Russia currently makes use of 23 codes that start with “3”, and Kazakhstan has 18: 14 area codes of oblast centers, 2 codes for the cities of Almaty and Astana with suburb areas, and 2 codes for the cities of Zhezkazgan and Semipalatinsk. In a whole, Kazakhstan and Russia in the composed numbering zone jointly possess 1/9 share of the world numbering resources.

Changes made to the area codes will enable to technically ease making a call to Kazakhstan from other countries and to put in good order the use of the numbering capacity inside the country. Besides, this will enhance the numbering resources assigned to Kazakhstan for its exclusive usage – up to 200 codes.