Area code 418 serves eastern Quebec, including Quebec City, Saguenay, Rimouski, and the Gaspé Peninsula. It is one of Canada’s original area codes, established in 1947, and continues to cover a large region with both urban and rural areas. Due to increased demand, area code 581 was introduced as an overlay in 2008, and ten-digit dialing became mandatory. Quebec City, the provincial capital, anchors the region with its political, cultural, and historical importance. 418 remains a deeply recognized and valued area code in Quebec, especially in francophone communities across the east.