Telephone numbers in Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Telephone number
s in Puerto Rico
are assigned under the North American Numbering Plan
(NANP).
Until March 1, 1996, Puerto Rico was one of many Caribbean islands served by area code 809. On that date Puerto Rico was assigned the new area code 787 (with the mnemonic
PUR or PTR).
As elsewhere in the NANP region, increasing use of modems and mobile telephones strained the supply of seven-digit numbers within area 787, and an overlay plan
came into effect in or about September 2001. Puerto Rico now has two area codes, 787 and 939. The new code is used mostly for wireless phones.
Because of the overlay, the area code must be dialed for all calls.
Telephone number
A telephone number or phone number is a sequence of digits used to call from one telephone line to another in a public switched telephone network. When telephone numbers were invented, they were short — as few as one, two or three digits — and were given orally to a switchboard operator...
s in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
are assigned under the North American Numbering Plan
North American Numbering Plan
The North American Numbering Plan is an integrated telephone numbering plan administered by Neustar which encompasses 24 countries and territories, including the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, and 16 nations of the Caribbean...
(NANP).
Until March 1, 1996, Puerto Rico was one of many Caribbean islands served by area code 809. On that date Puerto Rico was assigned the new area code 787 (with the mnemonic
Mnemonic
A mnemonic , or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often verbal, such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something,...
PUR or PTR).
As elsewhere in the NANP region, increasing use of modems and mobile telephones strained the supply of seven-digit numbers within area 787, and an overlay plan
Overlay plan
In telephony, especially in North America, an overlay plan is the practice of introducing a new area code by applying it onto a geographic area that is already occupied by one or more existing area codes, resulting in two area codes serving the same area.- Methodology :Prior to the introduction of...
came into effect in or about September 2001. Puerto Rico now has two area codes, 787 and 939. The new code is used mostly for wireless phones.
Because of the overlay, the area code must be dialed for all calls.
In popular culture
- In The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "A Tale of Two SpringfieldsA Tale of Two Springfields"A Tale of Two Springfields" is the second episode from season twelve of the animated TV series The Simpsons and is the 250th episode of the series overall in both broadcast and production order. The episode originally premiered November 5, 2000 on Fox Broadcasting Company.The episode was written...
" which first aired on November 5, 2000, 939 is one of two area codes (the other being 636Area code 636Area code 636 serves east-central Missouri, excluding the city of St. Louis and most of St. Louis County. 636 includes parts of the community of Chesterfield, and all of Union, De Soto, Troy, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Warren counties. Area code 314, now assigned to St. Louis and some suburbs,...
) assigned to the fictional town of SpringfieldSpringfield (The Simpsons)Springfield is the fictional town in which the American animated sitcom The Simpsons is set. A mid-sized town in an undetermined state of the United States, Springfield acts as a complete universe in which characters can explore the issues faced by modern society. The geography of the town and its...
.
- In the sixth seasonAmerica's Best Dance Crew (season 6)The sixth season of America's Best Dance Crew, also known as America's Best Dance Crew: Season of the Superstars, premiered on April 7, 2011 and concluded on June 5, 2011. Auditions were held in four cities from January 21 through February 5: Chicago, Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. This season...
of America's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance CrewAmerica's Best Dance Crew, often abbreviated as ABDC, is an American competitive dance reality television series that features street dance crews from the United States and around the world. It is produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and airs on MTV...
, a crew from Puerto Rico is named the 787 Crew.