Toronto residents will soon start seeing the new area code "942" pop up on their phones as the demand for new telephone numbers continues to grow across the city.

Starting April 26, 2025, the additional area code will be introduced in the region currently served by area codes 416, 437, and 647 in Ontario.

The introduction of the new 942 area code is the result of a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in response to the dwindling supply of phone numbers served by the other three area codes.

The commission initially projected that a new code would be needed in Toronto by January 2024.

"The introduction of a new area code creates millions of additional telephone numbers without affecting the existing numbers," said Kelly T. Walsh, Program Manager of the Canadian Numbering Administrator.

"The new 942 area code will be added to the current area codes already in use in this region and will cover the same geographic area."

The new area code will be introduced "gradually," and after April 26, 2025, consumers and businesses requesting a new phone number may receive one with the new area code.

The 942 area code does not affect the geographic boundaries for local calling areas or the way local or long-distance calls are dialed, and special numbers such as 911 will not be affected.

The new area comes over a decade after the introduction of 437 in 2013 and over 20 years following the existence of the 647 area code in 2001, which came into effect 54 years after the original 416 was implemented.