Split plan
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In telephony, especially in North America, a split plan is the practice of introducing a new area code by dividing an existing area code's territory and applying the new area code to one of the resulting divisions, replacing the existing area code within that section.
Split plans became increasingly unpopular through the 1980s and 1990s, as growth in demand for telephone numbers grew to require new area codes in increasingly densely populated areas due to the increase in use of pagers, fax machines, and cellular phones. Much of the resistance results from the fact that, after a split plan is implemented, the telephone numbers in the affected area are changed to the new area code, requiring printing of new stationery, advertisement, and signage, and dissemination of the new number to family, friends, and customers (both existing and potential).
As a result of this resistance, in the mid 1990s, the North American Numbering Plan introduced overlay plans, which apply multiple area codes to the same area. This allows customers to keep existing phone numbers, but requires 10-digit dialing in the affected area.
