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Bell Canada will be introducing the 273 area code as of next year, it announced in a news release Thursday morning.
The new code will include areas currently covered by the codes 418, 367 and 581. Those include population centres such as Quebec City, Saguenay, Lévis, and Rimouski.
Bell says the new numbers are needed to keep up with demand for telephone service.
Bell will continue assigning numbers with the existing area codes until they are exhausted.
Existing lines will keep their current area codes while the new numbers will be introduced gradually starting on Feb. 27, 2027.
Short codes such as 311, 811, and 911 won’t be affected.