862

Area code 862 is a significant part of the telephone numbering plan in the United States, specifically in the state of New Jersey. Geographical Coverage: Area code 862 serves the northern part of New Jersey. It operates as an overlay for the existing area code 973. This means that it covers the same geographic area as 973, including cities and towns like Newark, Paterson, Clifton, and Morristown. Introduction as an Overlay Code: The 862 area code was introduced in 2001. This was in response to the growing demand for telephone numbers in the region, especially with the proliferation of cell phones and other telecommunications services. As an overlay, 862 was added to provide a greater number of phone numbers without changing existing 973 numbers. Dialing Changes: With the introduction of the 862 overlay, 10-digit dialing (area code + phone number) became mandatory in the overlay region. This means that for all calls within and between the 973 and 862 area codes, the full 10-digit number must be dialed. In conclusion, area code 862 plays a vital role in New Jersey's telecommunication infrastructure, particularly in the northern part of the state. Its implementation as an overlay area code was a strategic solution to meet the increasing demand for phone numbers in a densely populated and rapidly developing region.