Western New York is getting a new area code.

To meet the increasing demand for residential and business phone numbers across the region, the New York State Public Service Commission announced that Western New York will soon have a 624 area code on top of the current 716 area code.

“Because of positive economic growth in Western New York, there is a clear need for more cellular service and other technologies for both home and business,” Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said in a statement earlier this month. “As a result, an additional telephone area code number is required. The new area code is necessitated by the expansion of telecommunication services in this region.”

Starting in 2024, customers requesting new service in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties will be assigned a new number with the 624 area code.

Existing customers who already have a 716 area code will not be impacted by this new overlay area code.