Area code 257
Area code 257 holds 15 in-service central-office prefixes in the CNAC register, covering roughly 150,000 telephone numbers. They are split between 4 carriers and 12 rate centres. The largest is Vancouver. Recorded assignments run from September 5, 2024 to January 19, 2026. That ranks it 53 of 55 Canadian area codes by prefix count.
Background reading: Caller ID spoofing, STIR/SHAKEN, and how to actually block calls in Canada · Canadian area codes, overlays, and what a 416 number actually tells you · One-ring scams and the Caribbean area codes that look Canadian
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 15
- Telephone numbers covered
- 150,000
- Carriers
- 4
- Rate centres
- 12
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- September 5, 2024
- Most recent assignment
- January 19, 2026
Who holds these numbers
IXICA Communications Inc. holds the largest share at 7 prefixes, 46.7% of the total, ahead of 3 other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share | First assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| IXICA Communications Inc. | 7 | 46.7 % | 2025 |
| Fibernetics Corporation | 4 | 26.7 % | 2024 |
| TELUS | 2 | 13.3 % | 2026 |
| TELUS Mobility | 2 | 13.3 % | 2024 |
Where these numbers land
Prefixes in 257 serve 12 rate centres. A rate centre is the billing area a prefix is attached to, not where the handset is.
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Richmond | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cloverdale | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Langley | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Ganges | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Haney | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Langley | BC | 1 | 1 |
| New Westminster | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Newton | BC | 1 | 1 |
| North Vancouver | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Pender Island | BC | 1 | 1 |
| West Vancouver | BC | 1 | 1 |
How the allocation was built up
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–2024 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025–2029 | 10 | 3 |
Overlay area codes
257 shares its rate centres with 236, 672, 778, 604, 250, 343, 468, 613, 753, 819, 873. Overlay codes cover the same ground, which is why ten-digit dialling is required: two neighbours on one street can hold different area codes.
Allocated prefixes
All 15 in-service prefixes, grouped by rate centre.
Vancouver, BC
257-222 · 257-700 · 257-999
Richmond, BC
257-777 · 257-888
Cloverdale, BC
257-277
Fort Langley, BC
257-500
Ganges, BC
257-258
Haney, BC
257-377
Langley, BC
257-200
New Westminster, BC
257-757
Newton, BC
257-577
North Vancouver, BC
257-444
Pender Island, BC
257-259
West Vancouver, BC
257-333
Allocation source: Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNAC), the registry that records which carrier a central-office code was originally issued to. An allocation says who was issued the prefix, not who serves the number today: numbers can be ported between carriers, and caller ID can be spoofed outright.