3 replies to this topic

[Beer Chang]

A friend hasn't been in Thailand for over a year. Gave his mobile a call to see if SIM is active. A Thai guy answered so apparently after expiration, i-2-Call recycles phone numbers.

[Wino]

I have had Thais call my cell phone and I have had the same number for three years. Not sure if it is simply a wrong number or due to the recycled phone number issue.

[Thaimo]

Beer Chang, on 18 January 2010 - 02:13 PM, said:

apparently after expiration, i-2-Call recycles phone numbers.

That is correct. All of the telephone companies do that. There really is no reason why they shouldn't. Only a few years ago mobile phone numbers in Thailand all had to transition from 9 digit numbers to 10 digit numbers. There are so many mobile phone users in Thailand that they simply ran out of numbers. If they don't recycle the numbers, then it won't be long before everyone will have to transition to 11 digit numbers. Sooner or later that may happen anyway.

[Wino]

Recycling phone numbers is common practice for phone companies. With the expanding population and demand, even land line numbers are in demand. Ma Bell sometimes has to start a new area code in a metropolitan area in order to have enough numbers.