Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in Gibraltar

Quick Reference

Country: Gibraltar
Country Code: +350
International Prefix: 00
National Prefix: None
Regulatory Authority: Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA)

Overview

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).

International Calls

Outgoing: Dial 00 + <country code> + <subscriber number>.
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.

Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Major Telecom Operators

Operator	Service Type	Number Range
Gibtelecom	Landline/Mobile	200XXXXX (Landline), 54XXXXXX, 56XXXXXX, 57XXXXXX, 58XXXXXX (Mobile)
U-mee	Landline	222XXXXX
Gibfibrespeed	Landline	225XXXXX

Number Allocation and Management

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.

For the latest updates on Gibraltar's telecom regulations, visit the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority's official website.

Recent and Upcoming Changes

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.