London telephone numbers are set for change, but what does this mean for home landlines and businesses? The area code for London is currently 0203; however, in recent years we have seen a shift away from area codes and a move towards 0333 numbers. In simple terms, 0333 numbers are the non-geographic equivalent of 01 and 02 numbers – they are an excellent choice for businesses, as they are low-cost and versatile alternatives to 084 and 087 numbers.

0333 numbers in more detail

Contrary to popular belief, 0333 numbers are cheap to call from both landlines and mobiles, with no nasty hidden charges. As a matter of fact, these numbers are free, as they are included in all-inclusive call packages in the same way as 01 and 02 numbers; this ensures that the 0333 number charges are fair to the person making the call. With this in mind, they are a good choice if you’re looking to receive numerous inbound calls, hence why they are recommended for business use across the UK.

Moreover, they are also a good alternative to 08000 numbers, as they still reduce your costs owing to their lack of a price tag. It should be remembered that 0330 numbers are the same as 0333 numbers but are not as popular. This is because 0300 numbers share the same range but are only available to public bodies, charities and non-profit entities. As 0333 numbers are non-geographic phone numbers, they are linked to any place in the UK. 0333 numbers were first introduced in 2007 as a substitute for traditional landlines that were assigned geographically via the use of area codes.

Benefits of 0333 numbers

0333 numbers have endless benefits attached, both for the recipient and the caller, while these numbers are also low-cost and come with minimal geographical restrictions. They are tailored to everyone, especially businesses – and, what’s more, there are no issues with calling 0333 numbers abroad.

This means that clients and customers who are currently overseas can contact you with ease. There is a huge selection of numbers to choose from; Planet Numbers provide 0333 numbers as an option in abundance. Also, there are very few regulations when it comes to using 0333 numbers.

Landlines in London

The capital is set to receive up to 10 million more landline phone numbers in 2019 in a bid to meet increased demand. This demand is thought to stem from a growing number of new homes and offices. Telecoms regulator Ofcom announced that it is also introducing a new 0204 number range for the city, which currently has some 30 million phone numbers allocated across the existing 0203, 0207 and 0208 ranges.

However, with new homes and offices constantly cropping up against the city, demand has soared, and there are fewer than a million numbers within the old ranges left to be handed out to phone companies. The remaining numbers will be used within a year, with companies distributing 30,000 London numbers each week, more than 4,000 a day. Ofcom will start accepting applications for 0204 numbers from phone companies from as early as next month, with numbers set to be allocated towards the turn of the year.