This step is envisaged with the guiding document “System and plan of numeration of telecommunication networks of Uzbekistan”, which was approved by decree of the State Committee of communication, information and telecommunication technologies from 26 December 2013 and came into force on 10 January 2014.

Earlier, it was reported that Uzbekistan is planning to introduce eight digit telephone numbers in the middle of 2014.

Asiljon Mirhabibov said that the document includes principles on stage-by-stage introduction of nine digit telephone numbers, not eight-digit numbers.

He said that the principle envisages that nine digit numbers will be dialed to call any number in Uzbekistan, independently from fixed telephone or mobile handset, or within Uzbekistan or from abroad.

He said that three number zone codes, which currently used in Uzbekistan, will be replaced to two digit numbers. For example, code of Tashkent, 371, will be replaced to 71, Khorezm region will get code 62 instead of current 361. Code of mobile operators, 59X, will be replaced to 9X. After code, seven digit numbers should be dialed.

The report said that to make a call it should be dialed 71ХХХХХХХ or 62ХХХХХХХ, and for mobile phones - 90ХХХХХХХ and 93ХХХХХХХ. International format of Uzbek phone numbers will remain as previous (example 998-71-ХХХХХХХ, 998-93-ХХХХХХХ).

All regions and mobile operators will keep their zonal codes of numeration and identification. Navoi region will be exception as it will get code 79 instead of 436.

Asiljon Mirhabibov noted that new numeration will help subscribers to easily identify region and operator of the caller. It will also help to solve problem of auto redial.

He said that opinion of fixed and mobile communication operators were taken into account during development of the guiding document. All of they gave their opinion and UNICON.UZ tried to take into account them.

UNICON.UZ official said that currently Uzbekistan fully introduced digital telephone stations and this will help to move to nine-digit numbers.