New Anatel Timeline: What Changes for STFC and SCM in 2026

Anatel has defined the official calendar for major changes in the telecommunications sector. The approval of the new timeline brings important news for providers and carriers. The implementation of the new STFC Local Areas is confirmed for 2026. Furthermore, there was a relevant change in the deadlines for SCM Public Numbering and Portability.

For those on the street operating the network, the focus now is planning. The phased calendar was designed to reduce operational risks. However, it requires technical attention from providers, especially those operating with STFC and preparing their ground for the future of broadband.

The scenario of STFC Local Areas

The main change approved by Resolution No. 768/2024 is the redefinition of Local Areas. Starting in 2026, the Local Areas of the Fixed Switched Telephone Service (STFC) will coincide with the geographic limits of Numbering Areas. In practice, this means that the landline service area will be aligned with area codes, the DDDs.

This geographic harmonization simplifies sector rules. It also prepares the ground for future portability between fixed and broadband services. The goal is to favor competition and give consumers more clarity about the limits of each service.

For providers, this directly impacts route configuration, billing, and marketing plans. The locality logic changes, and the system needs to recognize these new geographic boundaries to charge and route calls correctly.

The implementation schedule in 2026

To ensure a safe transition, Anatel divided the deployment into nine stages. All changes will occur on Sundays. This allows for a maintenance window with lower commercial call traffic. The total transition period runs from January to June 2026.

Check the dates and affected area codes:

• January 11, 2026: codes 71, 73, 74, 75, 77 and 79.
• February 01, 2026: codes 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99.
• February 22, 2026: codes 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89.
• March 15, 2026: codes 51, 53, 54 and 55.
• March 29, 2026: codes 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49.
• April 19, 2026: codes 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37 and 38.
• May 10, 2026: codes 21, 22, 24, 27 and 28.
• May 31, 2026: codes 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 and 69.
• June 21, 2026: codes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

Operational impact for the provider

The phased change is good news from a risk management perspective. It avoids a "big bang" that could bring down service networks. However, it requires an intense update routine during the first half of 2026.

Carriers using SoftSwitch will need to update digit analysis rules. The classification of a call as local, national long distance, or international may change based on the new Local Area. If your billing system is not aligned with the new geographic DDD, you risk charging incorrectly or losing revenue.

Besides billing, the interconnect needs to be reviewed. Traffic routing to other carriers must respect the new localities. Errors here can generate commercial conflicts and fines for poor call delivery quality.

Postponement of SCM Numbering and Portability

Another crucial point of the decision is the postponement of the ITU E.164 Public Numbering and SCM Numeric Portability. The new date for the start of Public Numbering is March 1, 2027. SCM Numeric Portability starts on September 1, 2027.

This postponement was requested by the market. The simultaneous implementation of changes in STFC with the start of SCM numbering would generate operational chaos. Carriers need to focus on stabilizing Local Areas in 2026 before opening the door for porting landline numbers to broadband.

For ISPs, this gives more breathing room. The possibility of the customer taking their landline number to the internet provider is a huge advance in competitiveness. However, the infrastructure for this needs to be mature. Having more time to adjust the SBC and BSS is vital.

Technical preparation and systems

What does the provider need to do now? The first step is to map which DDDs impact your operating area. If you operate in Rio Grande do Sul, for example, your extra attention should be in March 2026. If you are in Sao Paulo, the focus is June 2026.

Check with your software vendors if there are planned updates for locality tables. Legacy systems may require manual database updates. Ideally, the SoftSwitch already has automatic mechanisms to load these new tables.

It is also time to review contracts with customers. Changes in Local Areas may alter how the minute allowance is calculated. Transparency with the consumer is mandatory to avoid churn and complaints at Anatel.

Conclusion

The approved calendar brings predictability. Knowing exactly when each region will undergo the change allows for scaling the IT and operations team. It will not be necessary to stop everything at once, but rather execute scheduled maintenance on Sundays.

The postponement of SCM deadlines shows that Anatel listened to the sector. The complexity of harmonizing landlines and broadband geographically is real. Providers who use this time in favor of planning will get ahead. The modernization of the sector is an opportunity for small providers to compete on equal terms, provided the network is ready.

Stay tuned to the deadlines and keep your software park updated.