Botswana's telephone numbering plan is managed by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and follows the ITU-T E.164 standard. This guide offers detailed insights into the structure, formatting, and dialing procedures of phone numbers in Botswana. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone needing a thorough understanding of Botswana's telephone system.
Number Formats
Botswana's phone numbers are categorized by service type, such as landline, mobile, and toll-free. Below is a breakdown of the number formats:
General Number Structure
Country Code: +267
Subscriber Number Length: 7 to 8 digits
No Area Codes: Number prefixes indicate service type and geographic region.
Number Format Table
Type of Number
Format
Example
Regular Expression
Landline
2X XXXX XXXX
240 1234
^2[0-9]{6}$
Mobile
7X XXXX XXXX
71 123456
^7[1-8][0-9]{6}$
Toll-Free
0800 XXXX
0800 123456
^0800[0-9]{4}$
Premium Rate
90X XXXX
900 1234
^90[0-9]{5}$
Landline Numbers
Landline numbers in Botswana are 7 digits long and start with '2'.
Prefix
Description
Example
2X XXXX
General Landline Numbers
240 1234
Mobile Numbers
Mobile numbers are 8 digits long, starting with '71', '72', '73', or '74'.
Prefix
Description
Example
71XXXXXX
Mobile Numbers (Mascom)
71123456
72XXXXXX
Mobile Numbers (Orange Botswana)
72123456
73XXXXXX
Mobile Numbers (BTC Mobile)
73123456
74XXXXXX
Mobile Numbers (Various)
74123456
Toll-Free Numbers
Toll-free numbers use the prefix '0800' and are 7 digits long.
Prefix
Description
Example
0800XXXX
Toll-Free Numbers
08001234
Premium Rate Numbers
Premium rate numbers start with '90' and are 7 digits long.
Prefix
Description
Example
90XXXXX
Premium Rate Numbers
9001234
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial the 7-digit number directly.
Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
International Calls
Outgoing International Calls: Dial 00 followed by the country code and the local number.
Incoming International Calls: Callers from abroad should dial +267 followed by the 7 or 8-digit local number.
Number Portability
Botswana offers mobile number portability, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching between mobile operators. The process is overseen by BOCRA.
Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Operator
Service Type
Number Range
Mascom Wireless
Mobile
71XXXXXX
Orange Botswana
Mobile
72XXXXXX
BTC
Fixed Line & Mobile
2XXXXXX, 73XXXXXX
ITU-T Standards
Botswana adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, ensuring international phone numbers do not exceed 15 digits, including the country code, for global interoperability.
Number Allocation and Management
BOCRA is responsible for the allocation and management of phone numbers in Botswana, ensuring efficient assignment and no overlap between services.
Technical Considerations
Regular Expressions for Validation
Developers can use the following regular expressions to validate Botswana phone numbers:
BOCRA may implement number blocking or restrictions for certain prefixes, particularly for premium rate services. Developers should consider these restrictions when designing systems for phone number input or validation.
For the most current information on telecommunications regulations and numbering plans in Botswana, please visit the official BOCRA website.