New area code coming to North Louisiana

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A new 1-digit area code is coming to North Louisiana.

Officials with the Louisiana Public Service Commission have approved the addition of a new area code, 457, to the 318 area code region in North Louisiana. The new area code overlay will include Alexandria, Bossier City, Ruston, Shreveport, Monroe, and other smaller towns, villages, and communities.

Customers will not change their existing area code, but they will need to dial the area code and the 7-digit number to complete local calls.

Customers in the current 318 area code region should expect the new 10-digit dialing and new 457 area code change to take place beginning on Feb. 24. For six months, customers in North Louisiana will be in a permissive dialing period to adjust to including the area code when they make a local call. Then on Aug. 25, new telephone lines may be assigned 457 area codes that will co-exist with the well-known 318 area code.

All customers given a 457 area code will be required to dial 10 digits to make a local call.