Phone Numbers in Libya: A Comprehensive Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Libya
• Country Code: +218
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview

Explore Libya's telephone numbering plan with this detailed guide, tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators. Understand the structure, formats, and dialing procedures essential for efficient communication.

Number Formats

Libya uses a closed numbering plan with fixed-length numbers. Here's a breakdown of the phone number structure:

General Number Structure

• Country Code: +218
• National Significant Number (NSN): 8 to 9 digits
• Format: [2-9]X{7,8} (varies by service type)

Landline Numbers

• Format: 0X XX XX XX XX
• Length: 8 digits (excluding the national prefix)
• Area Codes:
  • 2: Tripoli and surrounding regions
  • 3: Benghazi and eastern regions
  • 4: Sabha and southern regions
  • 5: Misrata and central regions
  • 6: Zawiya and western regions
  • 7: Sirte and central coastal regions
  • 8: Kufra and southeastern regions

Regular Expression:

^0[2-8][0-9]{7}$

Examples:

• 0212345678 (Tripoli)
• 0312345678 (Benghazi)

Mobile Numbers

• Format: 09X XXX XXXX
• Length: 9 digits (excluding the national prefix)
• Prefixes:
  • 91, 92, 94, 95, 96: Assigned to different mobile operators

Regular Expression:

^09[1-6][0-9]{7}$

Examples:

• 0912345678
• 0923456789

Special Services

• Emergency Numbers: 3 digits
• Toll-Free Numbers: Not well-defined in public sources
• Premium Rate Numbers: Not publicly documented

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the full 8-digit number, including the area code.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number, including the prefix.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number.

Example:

• From a landline in Tripoli (021) to a mobile: 0912345678
• From a mobile in Benghazi (031) to another mobile: 0923456789

International Calls

• Outgoing Calls: Dial 00 + <Country Code> + <National Number>.
• Incoming Calls: Dial +218 + <Libyan National Number>.

Example:

• To call the United States from Libya: 00 1 5551234567
• To call Libya from the United States: +218 21 2345678

Number Portability

Currently, Libya does not support mobile number portability (MNP), meaning subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching providers.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Number Allocation and Management

The General Post and Telecommunications Company (GPTC), under the Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Company (LPTIC), manages phone numbers in Libya, ensuring compliance with ITU-T E.164 standards.

Technical Considerations

For Developers

• Validation: Use the provided regular expressions for phone number validation.
• Formatting: Ensure numbers are formatted correctly, especially for international contexts.
• Number Parsing: Implement logic for parsing and formatting numbers based on domestic or international use.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: No publicly available information on golden numbers.
• Number Blocking: No specific information on number blocking or restrictions.

References

• ITU-T Recommendation E.164: ITU-T E.164
• General Post and Telecommunications Company (GPTC): GPTC Official Website