Area code 780 is a telephone area code in the province of Alberta, encompassing the northern two-thirds of the province. The code was established in 1997; prior to this date the entire province was served by the 403 area code. The 780 phone code started use on January 25, 1999; the old 403 code forwarded calls until May 18, 1999.
Mandatory provincewide 10-digit dialing began on September 12, 2008.1 This change was done to accommodate new area codes that have been assigned to the province for future use.
The incumbent local exchange carrier in 780 is Telus.2
The projected exhaust date for area code 780 is October 2009.3 A new area code, 587, was introduced on September 12, 2008. The 780 area code, simultaneously with area code 403, was overlaid with the new area code, which will cover the entire province. The first new 587 numbers in 780 territory are expected to be assigned starting in October, 2008.