Understanding Phone Numbers in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Country Code: +387
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None

Overview

This comprehensive guide provides a detailed overview of the telephone numbering system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators seeking precise information on number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory frameworks.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Bosnia and Herzegovina's phone numbers are structured based on service type, including landlines, mobile, and special services. The general format includes:

• Country Code: +387
• Area Code: 2-3 digits
• Subscriber Number: 6-7 digits

Detailed Number Formats

Landline Numbers

Landline numbers consist of an area code followed by a 6-7 digit subscriber number.

• Format: (Area Code) X{6-7}
• Examples: 033123456, 0359876543

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers start with 6 and are followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.

• Format: 6X{7}
• Examples: 061234567, 063987654

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers begin with 8 and include 6 digits.

• Format: 8X{6}
• Examples: 800123456, 808987654

Premium Rate Numbers

These numbers start with 9 and are followed by 6 digits.

• Format: 9X{6}
• Examples: 900123456, 909987654

Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers are short, 3-digit codes.

• Format: 1XX
• Examples: 112 (General Emergency), 122 (Police)

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the area code + subscriber number (e.g., 033123456).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 061234567).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 063987654).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + country code + area code + subscriber number (e.g., 00 1 212 5551234 for USA).
• Incoming: Dial +387 + area code + subscriber number (e.g., +387 33 123456).

Number Portability

Implemented since 2015, number portability in Bosnia and Herzegovina allows both mobile and fixed-line numbers to be transferred between operators, enhancing competition and customer flexibility.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Regulatory Body

The Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRA) oversees the telecommunications sector, ensuring compliance with international standards and managing number ranges. Visit the CRA official website for more information.

Technical Considerations

Number Allocation and Management

The CRA manages the numbering plan, allocating number ranges to operators based on service type and region. Operators distribute these numbers to subscribers.

Regular Expressions for Validation

Use these regular expressions to validate phone numbers in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

// Landline Numbers
/^(2[0-9]{1,2}|3[0-9]{1,2})\d{6,7}$/

// Mobile Numbers
/^6[0-9]{7}$/

// Toll-Free Numbers
/^8[0-9]{6}$/

// Premium Rate Numbers
/^9[0-9]{6}$/

// Emergency Numbers
/^1[0-9]{2}$/

Special Cases and Restrictions

• Golden Numbers: Memorable numbers may have special allocation rules.
• Number Blocking: Certain ranges may be reserved or blocked by the CRA.