This guide offers an in-depth exploration of Guernsey's phone numbering system, detailing the structure, dialing procedures, and telecom regulations. It is an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone needing comprehensive knowledge of Guernsey's telecom landscape.
Number Formats
Guernsey adheres to the UK's numbering plan with some unique distinctions. Below is a detailed breakdown of the number formats used in Guernsey:
General Number Structure
Country Code: +44
Area Code: 1481 (specific to Guernsey)
Subscriber Number Length: 6 digits
Number Structure Breakdown
Type
Format
Example Number
Description
Geographic
+44 1481 XXXXXX
+44 1481 257895
Fixed-line numbers, typically used for landlines within Guernsey.
Mobile
+44 7XXX XXXXXX
+44 7781 123456
Mobile numbers, usually starting with 77, 78, or 79.
Toll-Free
+44 800 XXXXXX
+44 800 123456
Toll-free numbers, free for the caller within the UK and Guernsey.
Premium Rate
+44 9XX XXXXXX
+44 900 123456
Premium rate services, often used for special services or information lines.
Regular Expressions for Number Validation
Geographic Numbers: ^\(\+44\s?1481\s?\d{6}\)$
Mobile Numbers: ^\(\+44\s?7[7-9]\d{2}\s?\d{6}\)$
Toll-Free Numbers: ^\(\+44\s?800\s?\d{6}\)$
Premium Rate Numbers: ^\(\+44\s?9\d{2}\s?\d{6}\)$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial the full local number (e.g., 01481 257895).
Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 07781 123456).
Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 07781 123456).
International Calls
Outgoing: Dial 00, followed by the country code, area code (if applicable), and the subscriber number. For example, to call the USA: 00 1 212 5551234.
Incoming: International callers should dial +44 1481 followed by the 6-digit subscriber number for landlines, or +44 7XXX followed by the 6-digit subscriber number for mobiles.
Guernsey adheres to the ITU-T Recommendation E.164 for its numbering plan, ensuring global interoperability of its telephone numbers.
Number Allocation and Management
The numbering plan in Guernsey is managed by the Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator (OTA). The OTA is responsible for the allocation, management, and regulation of telephone numbers within the jurisdiction.
Technical Restrictions and Special Cases
Golden Numbers
Guernsey does not have a formal policy on "golden numbers," which are numbers considered more desirable due to their memorable or aesthetically pleasing sequences. However, such numbers are sometimes reserved or auctioned by telecom operators.
Number Blocking
Guernsey's telecom operators may implement number blocking for specific services, such as premium-rate numbers, to protect consumers from fraud or excessive charges.
Technical Considerations for Developers
When handling Guernsey phone numbers in software systems:
Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate phone numbers accurately.
Formatting: Ensure numbers are stored in E.164 format (+44 1481 XXXXXX) to maintain consistency.
Portability: Account for number portability by not hardcoding operator-specific number ranges.
Internationalization: Implement logic to handle both local and international dialing formats.