Lisburn telephone exchange code

The Lisburn telephone exchange code refers to the former 01846 area code, which until the 2000 Big Number Change, served Lisburn, Aghalee, Moira, Hillsborough, Dromore, Maze, Stoneyford and Baillies Mills, all of which are in Northern Ireland, a constituent part of the United Kingdom.This area gained 92, under the new 028 area code.

Before STD

Before STD (Subscriber Trunk Dialling) codes were introduced in Northern Ireland, during the 1960s and 1970s, an operator based system was in operation. Each subscriber had short (usually 3 or 4 digit) number within the local exchange. For example, the post office in Dromore was "Dromore 201". [Dromore Leader|accessdate=2007-12-01]

0846 and 08462

When STD was introduced to the area in the early 1970s, the local towns and villages around Lisburn all scrapped their three digit numbers (with the exception of Stoneyford) and added an extra three digits. These towns used 0846 + six digits.

*Moira took 611, therefore "Moira 369" became "611369".
*Maze took 621, therefore "Maze 249" became "621249".
*Baillies Mills took 638 , therefore "Baillies Mills 775" became "638775".
*Aghalee took 651, therefore "Aghalee 276" became "651276".
*Hillsborough took 682, therefore "Hillsborough 477" became "682477".
*Dromore took 692, therefore "Dromore 201" became "692201".

Dialling a number any of the aforementioned exchanges, from another area code was achieved by simply using "0846xxxxxx"'.

However in Lisburn, which already had four and five digit numbers, used the code "084 62".

To call "Lisburn 2201"/"Lisburn 77712" from another area code (outside 0846), one dialled "08462 2201"/"08462 77712". [cite web | url=http://www.lisburn.com/books/lisburn-borough/borough-guide-ads.htm | accessdate=2007-12-01 | title= Lisburn Borough Guide 1975 ]

1989 changes

In 1989, numbers in Lisburn town were adjusted to bring them into line with the surrounding area.

*Four digit numbers gained 66, therefore "Lisburn 2201" became "662201"
*Five digit numbers, commencing with '7', gained 6, therefore "Lisburn 77712" became "677712".
*Five digit numbers, commencing with '8', lost the first digit and gained 60 in its place. "Lisburn 81114" became "601114".

This meant that Lisburn town could use the 0846 code. [R.B.A.I. School News: Winter 1990|accessdate=2007-12-01]

1993 changes

In 1993, many changes were made throughout the country in preparation for phONE day in 1995. Many of the changes were eliminating 3-digit and 4-digit subscriber numbers in rural exchanges.

The only exchange affected in the 0846 area was Stoneyford. It had 3 and 4 digit numbers and used the area code "084664".

*Three digit numbers would gain 648, so Stoneyford 299 became 648299.
*Four digit numbers would gain 64, so Stoneyford 8149 became 648149.

Thus, Stoneyford became 0846. [Changes: BT Phone Book 241, January 1993|accessdate=2007-12-01]

phONE Day

'phONE Day', on 16th April 1995 meant the addition of the number '1' to every area code in the United Kingdom. 0846 therefore became 01846.The subscriber numbers were unchanged. [Telephone numbering in the Unied Kingdom]

Big Number Change

The Big Number Change on 22nd April 2000 was the introduction of eight-digit local numbers to areas of the country where there was a shortage of numbers under the six-digit/seven-digit system.Belfast's 01232 code was approaching its limit and with unavailability of a 011x area code, the decision was made to change the whole province to 028.Numbers in the 01846 area, which was deemed part of the 'Greater Belfast Area' were given the 92 prefix on the existing number.

*"[phone]" became [phone]
*"[phone]" became [phone]
*"[phone]" became [phone]

Calling within the original 01846 area now meant the inclusion of '92' irrespective of whether the number was your exchange or not. However it did omit the need to include the area code when calling other areas of the province. [Telephone numbering in the United Kingdom]

Today

Nowadays, with the expansion of the area, more local codes have been introduced.Here is a list of first 4/5 digits of the local number and area it covers.

*925x xxxx - Greater Lisburn (Recently introduced)
*9261 xxxx - Moira and Upper/Lower Ballinderry
*9262 1/2xxx - Mazetown and Long Kesh
*9262 8/9xxx - Greater Lisburn
*9263 0-7xxx - Greater Lisburn
*9263 8/9xxx - Baillies Mills and Temple
*9264 0-7xxx - Greater Lisburn
*9264 8xxx - Stoneyford
*9265 xxxx - Aghalee, Aghagallon and Gawley's Gate.
*9266 xxxx - Greater Lisburn
*9267 xxxx - Greater Lisburn
*9268 xxxx - Hillsborough, Culcavy and Annahilt
*9269 xxxx - Dromore

ee also

* List of United Kingdom dialling codes
* Telecommunications in the United Kingdom
* Telephone numbering plan
* Lisburn City Council
* Big Number Change

References

External links

* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/ UK Numbering Policy section of Ofcom's website]
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/numplan0507.pdf UK National Telephone Numbering Plan (in PDF format)]
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/numberingreview/statement/summary/#content UK Future Numbering Plan from Ofcom's website]
* [http://www.ukphoneinfo.com/section/tci/locator.shtml UK phone information]
* [http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/phreak/tenp_uk.htm Old UK phone numbering]