Starting on April 1, phone users across Moldova will have to dial 9 digits instead of 5 or 6 when calling a local number: the national prefix 0, plus the code of the respective geographic area, plus the subscriber's number, Info-Prim Neo reports. Sergiu Sitnic, the director of the Communications Regulatory Agency ANRCETI, explained at a news conference on Thursday that the shift to the so-called “closed numbering plan” is due to a shortage of numbers available to landline operators. The old way of dialing numbers will remain in place for three more months until June 30. During these three months, in all cases when a number is dialed the old way, callers will be informed by robocalls about the change. Starting on July 1, callers will be able to use only the “closed type” dialing format. Sergiu Sitnic also informed that the numbers in the 2 range are running out and the necessity appeared to make the 3 range available to alternative landline operators. According to Sergiu Sitnic, the shift to the new numbering plan will not entail any rate changes. There are roughly 1.2 million landline subscribers in Moldova.