Is New Hampshire Really Running Out of 603 Area Code Numbers?

When I first moved to New Hampshire, the fact that the state only had one are code was totally foreign and fascinating to me. Being of Massachusetts descent, I come from a land of many area codes; 339, 351, 617, 774, 781, 857, 508, 413, and my personal favorite, 978 (REPRESENT!)!

According to Boston.com, New Hampshire is one of 12 states in the country with a single unified area code for the entire state. The other states are:

• Montana
• Alaska
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Maine
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Vermont
•  Wyoming

603 is also one of the original area codes established in 1947.

But the rumors are true. We are nearing the end of the possible 10-digit phone numbers starting with the area code "603". We knew it would happen sometime. There is not an infinite amount of number combinations. But it doesn't make it any less tragic.

Boston.com states that theoretically, a single area code can include 7.7 million different seven-digit phone numbers. However, the problem lies in the way phone numbers were allocated in the pre-digital era. From what I understand, it was extremely inefficient.

So what's the plan? Where do we go from here? Will we still be able to refer to the Granite State as "the 603"?

New Hampshire leaders have been working hard to preserve the area code, as throwing another into the mix would "dilute the brand"

Governor Sununu said,

My Administration is taking all available steps at our disposal, and we are confident that the actions taken in this Executive Order will help prolong the exhaustion date by many years — giving residents and businesses peace of mind!