Costa Rica Traveller Reminder of New Phone Digit

For those who have not traveled to Costa Rica in a while, a reminder that ICE, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, Costa Rica's telephone company, had added a prefix to existing Costa Rica phone numbers. This took place back in March 20th, 2008. All Costa Rica phone numbers now have 8 numbers.

Every mobile phone has the prefix number #8, and land lines have a prefix #2. The extra digit is estimated to increase Costa Rica's theoretical phone number capacity to 20 million lines. With Costa Rica's population of over 4.3 million people, the new eight digit phone numbers should sustain the upcoming growth for the next 30 years.

Costa Rica has only one area code, 506. Other countries have handled similar problems by adding more area codes.

For Costa Rica business owners, they had to adjust their website contact information, as well as any business cards and business literature.

If you want to reach Costa Rica business that have neglected to do so, or found an old brochure, here's the rule:

- all fixed line numbers beginning with "2", "4", "5", "6" and "7" will all begin with "2". For example, the telephone number "231 3205" becomes "2231 3205".

- all cellular numbers beginning with "3" or "8" will all begin with "8". For example, the telephone number "399 9642" becomes "8399 9642".

The 900 number system like 911 has not been changed.

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