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Area code 726 is a planned, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) assigned telephone area code for numbers in and near San Antonio, Texas. It will be an enclave area code—similar to area code 312 in Chicago, or the already-existing area code 210 in San Antonio—because it will be completely surrounded by area code 830. This change will introduce the requirement for ten-digit dialing to the San Antonio metro area. Current 210 holding customers, however, will retain that area code and current phone numbers.
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Background
San Antonio's 210 area code was created in 1992, and has since become part of the area's culture and identity. Because area code 210 is close to exhaustion (estimated to be full by 2018) due to San Antonio and Bexar County's rapid growth, the need for additional switching capability became apparent to PUC by 2008. Current customers will keep their numbers and area code, however, new customers will be assigned either 210 or 726 area codes.
Details
Planning for the new area code began in June 2015. The code was officially assigned to the Bexar County area in August 2016, and will go into effect in October 2017. Public education efforts about the upcoming change will commence in September 2016.
Area code 726 will be an overlay number, sharing the same area now serviced by area code 210. Up until the new service is introduced, San Antonio will remain the largest city in Texas where seven-digit dialing is still possible. The implementation of overlay area code 726 will include a change to ten-digit dialing for the San Antonio metropolitan area. A six-month permissive period allowing either seven- or ten-digit dialing is set to begin in March 2017, but afterward, dialing ten digits will be required for phone service.
Affected areas
Residents in most of Bexar, and small portions of Atascosa, Comal, Guadalupe, Medina, and Wilson will be affected.
Adkins, Alamo Heights, Artesia Wells, Atascosa, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, China Grove, Cibolo, Converse, Ecleto, Elmendorf, Garden Ridge, Grey Forest, Helotes, Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park, Kirby, Leon Springs, Leon Valley, Live Oak, Losoya, Macdona, Olmos Park, Saint Hedwig, San Antonio, Sandy Oaks, Shavano Park, Schertz, Selma, Terrell Hills, Universal City, Von Ormy, Wetmore, and Windcrest.