All landline-to-mobile calls must be dialed with the prefix '0' from Jan 15

Callers will now be required to add '0' prefix for making calls from landlines to mobile phones in the country from Jan 15.

The telecom department has been asking telcos to make necessary arrangements by Jan 1 to implement the new system. The decision comes in order to free up sufficient numbering resources for future use.

"A total of approximately 2,539 million numbering series is expected to be generated from the above. This will free up sufficient numbering resources for future use," the telecom ministry said in a statement.