Smooth switch in dialing
Despite initial problems concerning international calls to mobile phones, yesterday’s switch in Greece’s telephone dialling system went smoothly, OTE state telecom said. «In general terms, it went very well,» OTE spokesman Ioannis Kolios told Kathimerini. «There was a small problem, for about an hour… with some networks regarding phone calls from Greece to mobiles abroad and from abroad to mobiles in Greece. Now, it has been repaired.» As of yesterday morning, the initial 0 in all fixed-line numbers changed to 2, to help OTE cope with increased network demand. Thus, for example, Athens numbers that used to start with the 010 area code now start with 210. Internet dial-up numbers’ initial 0 became an 8, while emergency and public information numbers remain unchanged – as do OTE charges. Yesterday’s was the second such change this year after all fixed-line numbers went ten-digit in January, in some cases doubling the effort required to make a local call. Mobile phone numbers will stay the same until January 19, when the initial 0 will change to 6.
