MANILA - Landline subscribers with 02 area code will have 8 digit numbers starting March 18, 2019 in compliance with an order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), PLDT Inc said Tuesday.

Telephone numbers in Metro Manila, Rizal Province, San Pedro, Laguna and Bacoor, Cavite with 02 area code will have 8 digits starting March 18, PLDT Inc said in an advisory.

The NTC's Memorandum Order No. 10-10-2017 directed all telcos to migrate telephone numbers in Metro Manila to 8 digits from 7, the telco said.

Numbers will be updated by adding "8" before the existing number, PLDT said.

Globe Telecom on Monday also announced that users in greater Metro Manila would have 8 telephone numbers starting March, 2019.

The NTC has ordered the migration to cater to the "rapid growth" of landline customers in major cities, Globe Telecom said.