Gibraltar's telephone numbering plan is structured to facilitate efficient communication within the country and internationally. This guide offers an in-depth look at the numbering formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory framework, essential for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators.
Number Formats
General Number Structure
Gibraltar employs an 8-digit closed numbering plan without area codes. Below is the structure:
Type
Format
Example
Landline
200XXXXX
20052200
Mobile
54XXXXXX, 56XXXXXX, 57XXXXXX, 58XXXXXX
54012345
Special Services
8XXXXXXX
80012345
Regular Expressions for Validation
Use these regular expressions to validate Gibraltar's phone numbers:
Landline:
^200\d{5}$
Mobile:
^5[4-8]\d{6}$
Special Services:
^8\d{7}$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial the full 8-digit number (e.g., 20052200).
Landline to Mobile: Dial the full 8-digit number (e.g., 54012345).
Mobile to Mobile: Dial the full 8-digit number (e.g., 54012345).
Mobile to Landline: Dial the full 8-digit number (e.g., 20052200).
Incoming to Gibraltar: Dial +350 + <8-digit local number>.
Number Portability
Gibraltar supports mobile number portability, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching operators. This enhances competition and provides flexibility for consumers.
The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) manages the allocation and regulation of phone numbers, ensuring compliance with ITU-T E.164 standards to meet the growing demand for telecom services.
ITU-T Standards Compliance
Gibraltar adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, which defines the international public telecommunication numbering plan, ensuring global interoperability.
Technical Considerations
For Developers and Systems Administrators
Number Validation: Implement the provided regular expressions for number validation.
Internationalization: Ensure your systems handle the +350 country code and format numbers for both domestic and international contexts.
Number Portability: Support number portability in your systems for users switching operators.
Emergency Services: Implement routing for emergency numbers, though specific short codes are not detailed here.
Since 2008, Gibraltar's numbering plan has evolved, introducing new prefixes for providers like U-mee and Gibfibrespeed. Stay informed with updates from the GRA.
Conclusion
Gibraltar's telephone numbering system is robust and internationally compliant, overseen by the GRA to support a dynamic telecommunications environment. Understanding its structure and regulations is crucial for professionals working with Gibraltar's phone numbers.