Dplan expansion
Dplan expansion
(OP)
my firm uses a 4 digit dial plan and we're at the point where this needs to be expanded. E.164 has already been shot down as an option, unfortunately. Is there any sort of matrix on what expanding to 5, 6 and 7 digit dial plans offer as number possibilities or is that dependent on how the firm is setup? We have 20+ offices that have unique 4 digit extensions. Our biggest location is starting to run out of assignable numbers due to clashes with other offices and we're also running out of available ranges as a whole to give to any new office.
Our approach was to have a steering digit (1) followed by a region code (01, 02, 03) and then the current 4 digit number. Folks within regions or CM clusters would still dial 4 digits, but have to use the 7 digit to reach another region. We have 3 different CM clusters..fyi. This would allow our biggest location to be able to start assigning extensions the other regions utilize. 6 digits causes an issue as we don't have steering digits that don't wind up clashing with a range. 10-xxx, 11-xxx, 12-xxx would work, but 13-xxxx clashes with a current 13xx range. I'm trying to sort out the reasoning why 5 digits doesn't work. Seems like it doesn't buy anything.
Our approach was to have a steering digit (1) followed by a region code (01, 02, 03) and then the current 4 digit number. Folks within regions or CM clusters would still dial 4 digits, but have to use the 7 digit to reach another region. We have 3 different CM clusters..fyi. This would allow our biggest location to be able to start assigning extensions the other regions utilize. 6 digits causes an issue as we don't have steering digits that don't wind up clashing with a range. 10-xxx, 11-xxx, 12-xxx would work, but 13-xxxx clashes with a current 13xx range. I'm trying to sort out the reasoning why 5 digits doesn't work. Seems like it doesn't buy anything.
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RE: Dplan expansion
RE: Dplan expansion
I used to be on the side of resistance of going to E164 thinking that users would have heartburn having to dial all those digits. bBt after doing a couple of conversions to that, and explaining to the users that they no longer would have to guess what was on net, local, inner LATA, or inter LATA AND the system would make the best least cost routing decisions for them which would save the company money most users got comfortable after just a day or two of having to dial 11 digits and complaints dropped to almost zero. Plus if you are moving to SIP trunks then having all 11 digits actually simplifies the dialed digit manipulation while giving more control over specific number routing.