Cabo Verde Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Understanding Phone Numbers in Cabo Verde

Quick Reference Guide

  • Country: Cabo Verde
  • Country Code: +238
  • International Prefix: 00
  • National Prefix: None

Comprehensive Guide to Cabo Verde's Phone Number System

Cabo Verde's telephone numbering plan is structured to facilitate efficient communication within the country and internationally. This guide provides detailed insights into the phone number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory frameworks governing telecommunications in Cabo Verde. Whether you're a telecom professional, developer, or business operator, this information is crucial for navigating Cabo Verde's telecom landscape.

Phone Number Formats in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde operates a closed numbering plan with fixed-length phone numbers. The country code is +238, and there is no national prefix for domestic calls.

General Number Structure

All phone numbers in Cabo Verde are 7 digits long, preceded by the country code +238. The structure varies by service type (e.g., landline, mobile, toll-free).

Landline Numbers

  • Format: 2[1-7]XXXXXX
  • Structure: Begins with '2', followed by a digit between 1 and 7, and then five more digits.
  • Example: +238 2211234

Mobile Numbers

  • Format: 9[1-9]XXXXX
  • Structure: Starts with '9', followed by another digit between 1 and 9, and then five more digits.
  • Example: +238 9912345

Toll-Free Numbers

  • Format: 800XXXX
  • Structure: Begins with '800' and is followed by four additional digits.
  • Example: +238 8001234

Special Services Numbers

  • Format: 1XX
  • Structure: Typically three digits long, starting with '1'.
  • Example: 112 (Emergency services)

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

  • Landline to Landline: Dial the 7-digit number directly (e.g., 2211234).
  • Landline to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 9912345).
  • Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 9912345).

International Calls

  • Outgoing: Dial the international prefix 00, followed by the country code, area code, and local number.

    • Example: To call Portugal, dial 00 351 XXXX XXXX.

  • Incoming: The caller should dial +238 followed by the 7-digit local number.

    • Example: A caller from the USA would dial +238 2211234.

Number Portability

Currently, Cabo Verde does not offer number portability for either landline or mobile numbers. All numbers remain with their original telecom operators.

Major Telecom Operators

  • CVTelecom: Manages most landline numbers starting with 2.
  • Unitel T+: Primary mobile network operator, managing numbers starting with 9.
  • Toll-Free Numbers: Managed under the prefix 800.

Regulatory Body and ITU Compliance

The Agência Nacional das Comunicações (ANAC) is the regulatory authority overseeing telecommunications in Cabo Verde. The country complies with ITU-T Recommendation E.164, which outlines the international public telecommunication numbering plan.

Technical Considerations for Developers

When developing systems involving Cabo Verde's phone numbers, consider:

  1. Validation: Use regular expressions to validate phone numbers:

    • Landline: ^2[1-7]\d{5}$
    • Mobile: ^9[1-9]\d{5}$
    • Toll-Free: ^800\d{4}$
    • Special Services: ^1\d{2}$

  2. Formatting: Include the country code +238 when storing or displaying numbers.

  3. Portability: Since number portability is unavailable, the prefix indicates the operator.

  4. Internationalization: Implement correct international dialing rules.

For the latest telecommunications regulations in Cabo Verde, visit the official ANAC website.

This guide is optimized for search engines, providing a comprehensive, data-driven overview of working with Cabo Verde's phone numbers.