MOBILE phone service operator Hello, a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia International, has announced the launch of the new prefix number 081 to meet the needs of its growing number of subscribers, it said last week.

The company has seen the number of its subscribers almost double during the past 12 months, said Gary Foo, brand manager of Hello.

"This new launch shows the commitment of Hello to our customers and future development of the network," Foo said.

Customers using the new prefix will still receive the same benefits as existing customers using the provider's 015 and 016, Foo added.

Currently, 29 percent of Cambodians own mobile phones, a figure that is expected to rise to 46 percent by 2012, private sector data shows.

The company this month also launched an unlimited international roaming package, the country's first, it said.