Area code 879 — Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (overlay of 709). Overlay assignment, in service since February 2024.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Province / territory
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Service area
- Newfoundland and Labrador (overlay of 709)
- Time zone
- Newfoundland Time (NST/NDT, UTC-3:30/-2:30)
- Type
- Overlay
- In service since
- 2024
- Prefixes in service
- 3 central-office codes (CNAC, 2026-07-04)
- Country code
- +1 (NANP)
Map
Exchange areas with 879 prefixes in service
Related & overlay area codes
Area code 879 shares geography with 1 other code serving the same region. A call placed inside this overlay must dial all 10 digits regardless of which code your own line uses.
Carriers operating in 879
The following carriers hold central office (CO) code assignments within numbering plan area 879, per CNAC records as of 2026-07-04. Number portability means a phone number originally issued by one carrier may now ride on another carrier's network.
About area code 879
Area code 879 is a Canadian numbering plan area covering Newfoundland and Labrador (overlay of 709). It entered service on 17 February 2024, and as of the Canadian Numbering Administrator's records dated 2026-07-04 it has 3 central-office prefixes in service. It operates under the Newfoundland Time (NST/NDT, UTC-3:30/-2:30) time zone. Most of Labrador observes Atlantic Time instead.
879 is the first overlay for Newfoundland and Labrador, added because the province's original code, 709, was approaching exhaustion. Its first prefixes in service are wireless blocks in St. John's and Corner Brook.
Numbers in the 879 NPA are issued in central office (CO) blocks of 10,000 to local exchange carriers, who then assign them to subscribers. Because Canada uses a competitive carrier model under CRTC oversight, multiple carriers — both incumbent and competitive — can hold blocks within 879. The current carrier of record for any specific number can be looked up via the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium, but the originally issued carrier is no longer a reliable signal of who actually serves that line.
To call a number in 879 from outside Canada and the United States, dial your country's international access prefix, then +1 879 followed by the 7-digit local number. Within the NANP, simply dial 1 followed by all 10 digits.
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 879?
Area code 879 serves Newfoundland and Labrador (overlay of 709) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
What time zone is 879?
Numbers in 879 are in the Newfoundland Time (NST/NDT, UTC-3:30/-2:30) time zone. Most of Labrador observes Atlantic Time instead.
Is 879 a toll-free or mobile-only code?
No. Canadian area codes are geographic — they apply to both landline and mobile numbers in Newfoundland and Labrador (overlay of 709). Toll-free codes in the NANP (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888) are a separate category.
Why do I see calls from 879 if I do not know anyone there?
Two reasons. First, mobile portability: someone who moved away from Newfoundland and Labrador can keep their 879 number anywhere in the world. Second, scam callers frequently spoof Canadian area codes to appear local. If you do not recognise the number, it is generally safe to let it go to voicemail.