Hong Kong phone users may be at fours and eights when new mobile numbers come on stream next July
Phone companies worry about numbers starting with the inauspicious four, while those starting with lucky eight are likely to be snapped up
Superstition is likely to come into play from July next year as the telecom watchdog prepares to offer mobile phone numbers beginning with the lucky eight and decidedly inauspicious four.
Hutchison, one of the major telecommunications operators in the city, expressed concern about the public perception of “four”, which in Cantonese sounds like the word death. It suggested deferring its use for as long as possible due to “cultural issues”.
The Communications Authority is planning to boost available numbers to 15.72 million. It is also releasing more numbers starting with 70 to 73 in a plan that could see the existing eight-digit numbering system extended by around 10 years to 2029.
The decision was announced by the authority yesterday after a two-month public consultation exercise late last year.
From July 1 next year, phone numbers beginning with four will be released for the first time for mobile phones. However, the measure might not be welcomed by the public.
According to the authority’s latest statement, major operators China Mobile, Hutchison and SmarTone did not object to the plan, but expressed concern about public perceptions.
Hutchison, which is owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing, suggested the authority should defer the use of the number until at least December 2025.
SmarTone said the numbers did not have to be restricted for mobile data or pre-paid SIM services, as it could give the industry “more flexibility in fulfilling market need”.
Hong Kong Telecom said it would not comment at this stage.
Unused phone numbers starting with 81 to 83, which carries the lucky “eight” – a word that sounds similar to “wealth” – will also be released for mobile use.
From July 2021 onwards, some paging numbers starting with 71 to 73 will be reassigned to mobile phones.
The new phone numbers are part of a package of measures to solve the shortage of mobile phone numbers, which could be used up by as early as November 2018.
The authority will hire a consultant to examine the development of numbering in the city. It will study for example whether there is a need to migrate to a system using more than eight digits.
Eight-digit numbering has been in use since 1995.
