Phone Numbers in Guatemala: Formats and Dialing Rules

Quick Reference

• Country: Guatemala
• Country Code: +502
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None

Overview

Discover the intricacies of Guatemala's telephone numbering plan. This guide is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators who need precise and actionable insights into number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory considerations.

Number Formats

Guatemala employs a closed numbering plan with fixed-length numbers. The country code is +502, and there is no national prefix. Below is a detailed breakdown of number formats for various services.

General Number Structure

• Country Code: +502
• National Number Length: 8 digits

Geographic Numbers

Geographic numbers are designated for fixed-line services, usually assigned by region.

• Format: [2-7]XXXXXXX
• Length: 8 digits
• Example: 22345678 (a number in Guatemala City)

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers typically start with 3, 4, or 5.

• Format: [3-5]XXXXXXX
• Length: 8 digits
• Example: 51234567 (a mobile number)

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers begin with the digit 1, followed by 7 additional digits.

• Format: 1800XXXXXX
• Length: 10 digits
• Example: 1800123456 (a toll-free number)

Premium Rate Numbers

Premium rate services use a prefix starting with 19, followed by 6 digits.

• Format: 19XXXXXX
• Length: 8 digits
• Example: 19012345 (a premium rate number)

Number Format Table

Service Type	Format	Example	Length
Geographic Numbers	[2-7]XXXXXXX	22345678	8
Mobile Numbers	[3-5]XXXXXXX	51234567	8
Toll-Free Numbers	1800XXXXXX	1800123456	10
Premium Rate	19XXXXXX	19012345	8

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + <Country Code> + <National Number>
  • Example: To call the U.S., dial 00 1 5551234567.
• Incoming: Callers from abroad should dial +502 followed by the 8-digit local number.

Technical Details

Regular Expressions

Use the following regex patterns to validate Guatemalan phone numbers:

• Geographic Numbers:
  ^[2-7]\d{7}$
  

• Mobile Numbers:
  ^[3-5]\d{7}$
  

• Toll-Free Numbers:
  ^1800\d{6}$
  

• Premium Rate Numbers:
  ^19\d{6}$
  

Number Portability

Guatemala supports mobile number portability, enabling users to retain their numbers when switching carriers. Detailed procedures are sparse but essential for telecom operations.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Guatemala's telecom landscape features several major operators:

• Tigo Guatemala: Primarily 4XX and 5XX ranges.
• Claro Guatemala: Utilizes the 3XX range.
• Movistar Guatemala: Shares the 5XX range with Tigo.

ITU-T Recommendations

Guatemala's numbering plan adheres to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, ensuring compliance with international standards for telecommunication numbering.

Number Allocation and Management

The Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SIT) oversees number allocation and management, ensuring adherence to national and international standards. Visit SIT's official site for more information.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Reserved for high-demand services, often available at a premium.
• Number Blocking: Certain ranges may be blocked due to misuse or regulatory needs.

Technical Considerations for Developers

• Validation: Use the provided regex patterns for number validation.
• Portability Checks: Implement checks for number portability in your systems.
• Internationalization: Store numbers in E.164 format for global compatibility.