Tijuana, Baja California – As a bustling hub of commerce, tourism, and cross-border activity, Tijuana’s telecommunications infrastructure is constantly evolving to meet the growing demand. A key component of this evolution is the implementation of the 663 area code Mexico, an overlay to the existing 664 area code that serves the vibrant municipality. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the 663 area code Mexico, its implementation, and what it means for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Understanding the Overlay: Why the 663 Area Code Was Introduced
The introduction of the 663 area code Mexico in 2018 was a strategic move by Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) to address the increasing demand for new telephone numbers in Tijuana. This phenomenon, known as “number exhaustion,” occurs when the available combinations of numbers within an existing area code are depleted. Rather than splitting the region and assigning a new area code to a portion of it, an overlay was chosen. This allows existing 664 numbers to remain unchanged while new numbers are assigned the 663 prefix.
This approach minimizes disruption for existing phone users and businesses who have long-established numbers. It also reflects the rapid growth of Tijuana’s population and economy, which has spurred a significant increase in the need for both landline and mobile phone lines.
How to Dial in Tijuana: Navigating the 10-Digit System
A significant change in Mexico’s telecommunications landscape occurred in 2019 with the nationwide implementation of a standardized 10-digit dialing system. This eliminated the need for various prefixes that were previously used for different types of calls within the country.
For anyone dialing a number in Tijuana, whether it has the 664 or the 663 area code Mexico, the process is straightforward:
- From within Mexico: Simply dial the 10-digit number, which includes the three-digit area code (663 or 664) followed by the seven-digit local number.
- From outside Mexico: Dial your country’s international exit code (e.g., 011 from the United States and Canada), followed by Mexico’s country code (52), and then the 10-digit phone number (area code + local number).
For example, to call a number with the 663 area code Mexico from the United States, you would dial: 011 + 52 + 663 + XXX-XXXX.
The Telecommunications Landscape in Tijuana
Tijuana’s telecommunications market is a competitive environment with several key players providing a range of services, including mobile telephony, landlines, and internet access. The major providers in the region include:
- Telcel: A subsidiary of América Móvil, Telcel is the dominant mobile service provider in Mexico, with extensive coverage throughout Tijuana and the Baja California peninsula.
- AT&T: A major competitor in the Mexican mobile market, AT&T offers comprehensive service and has a significant presence in urban areas like Tijuana.
- Movistar: Another key player in the mobile sector, Movistar provides competitive plans and services to a large subscriber base in the region.
- Telnor: As the primary provider of landline and internet services in the northwestern region of Mexico, Telnor, a part of the Telmex group, plays a crucial role in Tijuana’s fixed-line telecommunications infrastructure.
These companies are continually expanding and upgrading their networks to accommodate the growing demand and to deploy newer technologies, including 5G, across the city. The presence of both the 664 and the 663 area code Mexico is a direct result of the thriving and expanding user base that these providers serve.
