Connecticut Gets a New Area Code: What You Need to Know

Move over area code 203 and 860; there will soon be a new number in Connecticut.

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority announced Tuesday that there will be a new area code in Connecticut moving forward.

The new 959 area code is now being introduced in the Connecticut calling region that the 860 area code serves. The supply of telephone numbers in the 860 area code is exhausting because of the continuing demand for telephone numbers, resulting in the opening of the new 959 area code, PURA officials said in a prepared statement.

Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved the new 959 area code as an overlay to the 860 region to meet customer demand.

An overlay is the addition of a new area code, in this case 959, to the same geographic region as an existing area code (860). An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code, personal telephone numbers, or the manner in which they dial calls.

The PURA has been working with the telecommunications industry since mid-2013 to oversee the orderly implementation of the new 959 area code. Customers requesting new service, an additional line, or in some cases, moving their service may now be assigned a number in the new 959 area code.

For most customers, the new area code should have minimal impact:

Existing telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change;

Customers will continue to dial area code + telephone number for local calls, and 1 + area code + telephone number for long distance calls;

Local calling areas will remain the same;

Prices for calls and coverage areas will not change due to the overlay;

Customers will still dial services such as 911 (211, 411, 811, etc.) with just three digits.

The PURA reminds customers to continue identifying their telephone number as a ten-digit number (area code + seven digits), and include the area code when giving the number to friends, family, business associates and others.

Customers should also ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment, and other types of equipment recognize 959 as a valid area code. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, and similar functions.

Likewise, customers should also check their business stationery, advertising materials, personal checks, and personal or pet ID tags to ensure the area code is included in the stated telephone number.

Customers should contact their respective carriers with questions about the new area code.

The 860 area code was created in 1995 and serves most of Connecticut except for New Haven County and most of Fairfield County, and a few communities in Litchfield County, the Register Citizen reports.

A 475 area code has also previously been added and is used in the 203 area code region.

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