Switzerland's telephone numbering plan is meticulously structured and adheres to international standards, ensuring efficient communication both domestically and internationally. This guide is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators seeking precise and current information on Switzerland's telecommunications framework.
Number Structure Explained
Switzerland employs a closed numbering plan in line with ITU-T Recommendation E.164, meaning all numbers, including area codes, have a fixed length.
General Number Format
Total Digits: 9 (excluding country code)
Format: 0XX XXX XX XX or 0XXX XX XX XX
Components:
Country Code: +41
National Destination Code (NDC): 2-4 digits
Subscriber Number: 6-7 digits
Examples:
Landline: 021 345 67 89
Mobile: 079 123 45 67
Detailed Number Formats
Below is a table detailing number formats for various services in Switzerland:
Service Type
Format
Example
Regular Expression
Geographic Numbers
0XX XXX XX XX
021 345 67 89
^0[2-5][0-9]{2} [0-9]{3} [0-9]{2} [0-9]{2}$
Mobile Numbers
07X XXX XX XX
079 123 45 67
^07[5-9][0-9]{2} [0-9]{3} [0-9]{2} [0-9]{2}$
Toll-Free Numbers
0800 XXX XXX
0800 123 456
^0800 [0-9]{3} [0-9]{3}$
Premium Rate Numbers
090X XXX XXX
0900 123 456
^090[0-6] [0-9]{3} [0-9]{3}$
Shared Cost Numbers
084X XXX XXX
0842 123 456
^084[0-8] [0-9]{3} [0-9]{3}$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial 0 followed by the full number (e.g., 021 345 67 89).
Landline to Mobile: Dial 07X XXX XX XX (e.g., 079 123 45 67).
Mobile to Mobile: Directly dial 07X XXX XX XX (e.g., 079 123 45 67).
International Calls
Outgoing: Dial 00 followed by the country code and the subscriber number (e.g., 00 49 30 12345678 for Germany).
Incoming: International callers should dial +41 followed by the Swiss number without the leading 0 (e.g., +41 21 345 67 89).
Number Portability
Switzerland supports number portability for both mobile and fixed-line services, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching providers. This fosters competition and enhances consumer choice.
Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Major telecom operators in Switzerland include Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt. While specific number ranges are managed by OFCOM, they are not publicly disclosed.
ITU-T Standards Compliance
Switzerland complies with ITU-T Recommendation E.164, ensuring global compatibility and standardization across telecommunications systems.
Number Allocation and Management
The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) oversees the allocation and management of phone numbers in Switzerland, ensuring adherence to international standards and consumer needs.
Technical Considerations for Developers
Regular Expressions for Validation
Developers can use the following regular expressions to validate Swiss phone numbers:
Consider integrating a number portability lookup service to ensure accurate routing and billing when dealing with Swiss phone numbers.
Recent or Upcoming Changes
As of the latest updates, no significant changes have been made to Switzerland's numbering plan since its last major revision in 2002.
Technical Restrictions and Special Cases
While Switzerland does not publicly document specific technical restrictions like golden numbers, all allocations must comply with OFCOM's regulations.
For the most current information on Switzerland's telecommunications regulations, visit the official OFCOM website.
Conclusion
Switzerland's telephone numbering plan is robust and internationally compliant, ensuring reliable communication. By understanding the formats, dialing rules, and regulatory environment, telecom professionals can optimize system performance and enhance user experience when working with Swiss phone numbers.