Number Format Structure and Validation

Understanding the Basics

Afghanistan's phone number system follows a structured format that enables efficient routing and validation. Let's break down the core components and implementation requirements for proper number handling.

Core Components

• Country Code: +93 (Afghanistan's international dialing code)
• Area Codes: Two-digit regional identifiers verified by Sent.dm
  • Range: 20-69
  • Example: 20 for Kabul
• Subscriber Numbers:
  • Landline: 6 digits
  • Mobile: 7 digits
• Dialing Prefixes:
  • Domestic: 0 (must be omitted in international format)
  • International: 00 (alternative to '+' notation)

Format Patterns and Validation Rules

Below is a comprehensive breakdown of number formats with validation requirements:

Implementation Guidelines

When implementing phone number validation for Afghanistan, consider these key requirements:

1. Mobile Number Validation

// Example validation function for mobile numbers
function isValidAfghanMobile(number) {
  // Remove spaces and check format
  const cleaned = number.replace(/\s/g, '');
  return /^07[0-9]\d{7}$/.test(cleaned);
}

• Must begin with 07
• Requires exactly 10 digits (including prefix)
• Spaces should be handled in validation logic

2. Landline Validation

// Example validation function for landline numbers
function isValidAfghanLandline(number) {
  // Remove spaces and validate format
  const cleaned = number.replace(/\s/g, '');
  return /^0[2-6][0-9]\d{6}$/.test(cleaned);
}

• Must start with 0 followed by valid area code
• Total length: 9 digits (including prefix)
• Area codes: First digit [2-6], second digit [0-9]

3. International Format Handling

// Convert local to international format
function toInternationalFormat(number) {
  // Remove spaces and leading 0
  const cleaned = number.replace(/\s/g, '').replace(/^0/, '');
  return `+93 ${cleaned}`;
}

• Must include +93 country code
• Remove leading 0 when converting to international format
• Handle both +93 and 0093 prefix variations

Best Practices for Implementation

1. Input Sanitization

   • Remove all whitespace before validation
   • Strip any special characters
   • Normalize international prefixes

2. Format Flexibility

   • Accept numbers with or without spaces
   • Support multiple input formats
   • Handle both local and international formats

3. Error Handling

   • Provide specific error messages for validation failures
   • Implement graceful fallbacks for edge cases
   • Log validation errors for monitoring

Emergency Services

The emergency service number system in Afghanistan follows these rules:

• Standard emergency number: 119
• Format: 1XX pattern
• Direct dial: No prefix required
• Availability: May vary by region
• Management: Overseen by MCIT

Mobile and Landline Number Formats

Afghanistan's telecommunications sector has undergone significant transformation since 2002, evolving from limited fixed-line infrastructure to a predominantly mobile-based network. According to the Digital Logistics Capacity Assessment, mobile penetration has reached over 70% of the population, making it the primary means of communication across the country.

Mobile Number Structure

Mobile numbers in Afghanistan follow a standardized format designed for scalability and operator identification:

• Format: 07X XXXXXXX (11 digits total)
• Prefix: 07 (Afghanistan mobile identifier)
• Operator Code: Single digit (0-9) identifying the service provider
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits unique to each customer

Geographic Number System

Landline numbers maintain a geographic significance through area codes:

• Format: 0AA XXXXXX (9 digits total)
• Area Codes: 2 digits identifying specific regions
  • 020: Kabul (capital region)
  • 040: Kandahar
  • 050: Jalalabad
  • Other major cities: Unique 2-digit codes

Major Telecom Operators and Coverage

The telecommunications market features four primary operators, each with distinct coverage strengths:

Network Coverage and Technology

The MCIT coordinates network expansion through a three-tiered approach:

1. Urban Centers (Tier 1)

   • 4G/LTE coverage
   • Full operator choice
   • Highest service reliability

2. Provincial Cities (Tier 2)

   • 3G/4G mixed coverage
   • Multiple operator options
   • Regular service availability

3. Rural Areas (Tier 3)

   • Basic 2G/3G coverage
   • Limited operator choice
   • Focus on voice and basic data

Technical Implementation Guidelines

For developers integrating Afghan phone number handling:

// Regular expression patterns for validation
const patterns = {
  mobile: /^07[0-9]\s?[0-9]{3}\s?[0-9]{4}$/,
  landline: /^0[2-6][0-9]\s?[0-9]{6}$/,
  international: /^\+93\s?[2-6][0-9]\s?[0-9]{6}$/
};

// Example validation function
function validateAfghanPhone(number, type) {
  return patterns[type].test(number);
}

Best Practices for Number Handling

1. Format Standardization

   • Strip all whitespace and special characters
   • Apply consistent formatting for display
   • Validate against both local and international formats

2. User Interface Considerations

   • Implement smart input formatting
   • Show operator identification in real-time
   • Provide format guidance to users

3. Error Handling

   • Validate area codes against official listings
   • Check operator prefixes for validity
   • Handle legacy number formats gracefully

Technical Implementation Guide for Afghanistan Phone Numbers

Overview

This comprehensive implementation guide provides developers with detailed specifications and best practices for handling Afghanistan phone numbers in accordance with ITU-T E.164 standards and MCIT regulations. Whether you're building a telecommunications application, validation service, or integrating phone number handling into your system, this guide will help ensure compliance and reliability.

Implementation Prerequisites

Before beginning implementation, ensure you have:

• Basic understanding of regular expressions
• JavaScript development environment
• Error handling framework
• Testing infrastructure

Number Format Specifications

Understanding the Pattern Structure

Afghanistan phone numbers follow specific patterns based on their type. Let's break down each pattern and understand its components:

Regular Expression Patterns

// Landline validation: Matches 8-digit numbers starting with 0 followed by area code
const landlineRegex = /^0[2-6][0-9]\d{6}$/;

// Mobile validation: Matches 9-digit numbers starting with 07
const mobileRegex = /^07[0-9]\d{7}$/;

// International format: Matches numbers with +93 prefix
const internationalRegex = /^\+93[2-6][0-9]\d{6}$/;

Format Rules and Validation Logic

/**
 * Comprehensive validation function for Afghan phone numbers
 * @param {string} phoneNumber - The phone number to validate
 * @param {string} type - The type of number to validate ('landline', 'mobile', 'international', 'any')
 * @returns {boolean} - Validation result
 */
function validateAfghanPhoneNumber(phoneNumber, type = 'any') {
  // Clean the input by removing spaces and special characters
  const cleanNumber = phoneNumber.replace(/[\s\-]/g, '');
  
  // Validate based on specified type
  switch(type) {
    case 'landline':
      return landlineRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    case 'mobile':
      return mobileRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    case 'international':
      return internationalRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    case 'any':
      return (
        landlineRegex.test(cleanNumber) ||
        mobileRegex.test(cleanNumber) ||
        internationalRegex.test(cleanNumber)
      );
    default:
      throw new AfghanPhoneNumberError('Invalid validation type');
  }
}

Robust Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling to manage validation failures and edge cases:

/**
 * Custom error class for Afghan phone number operations
 */
class AfghanPhoneNumberError extends Error {
  constructor(message, code = 'INVALID_FORMAT') {
    super(message);
    this.name = 'AfghanPhoneNumberError';
    this.code = code;
  }
}

/**
 * Formats Afghan phone numbers according to standard conventions
 * @param {string} phoneNumber - The phone number to format
 * @returns {string} - Formatted phone number
 * @throws {AfghanPhoneNumberError} - If validation fails
 */
function formatAfghanPhoneNumber(phoneNumber) {
  try {
    const cleaned = phoneNumber.replace(/[\s\-]/g, '');
    
    // Validate before formatting
    if (!validateAfghanPhoneNumber(cleaned)) {
      throw new AfghanPhoneNumberError(
        'Invalid Afghan phone number format',
        'VALIDATION_FAILED'
      );
    }

    // Apply appropriate formatting based on number type
    if (cleaned.startsWith('07')) {
      return cleaned.replace(/(\d{3})(\d{3})(\d{3})/, '$1 $2 $3');
    }
    return cleaned.replace(/(\d{2})(\d{3})(\d{3})/, '$1 $2 $3');
  } catch (error) {
    throw new AfghanPhoneNumberError(error.message, error.code);
  }
}

Special Numbers Implementation

Handle emergency and service numbers with proper validation:

/**
 * Emergency service number constants and validation
 */
const EMERGENCY_NUMBERS = {
  POLICE: '119',
  FIRE: '112',
  AMBULANCE: '115',
  TRAFFIC_POLICE: '117'
};

/**
 * Validates emergency service numbers
 * @param {string} number - Number to validate
 * @returns {boolean} - True if valid emergency number
 */
function isEmergencyNumber(number) {
  const cleaned = number.replace(/[\s\-]/g, '');
  return Object.values(EMERGENCY_NUMBERS).includes(cleaned);
}

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