Montenegro Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

This comprehensive guide provides detailed information about Montenegro's phone number system, including emergency services, number formats, validation patterns, portability, and regulatory oversight. This information is crucial for developers building applications that interact with Montenegrin users or services.

Emergency Services in Montenegro

Montenegro offers a robust emergency response system adhering to European standards. These services are accessible 24/7 to both residents and visitors.

Primary Emergency Contacts

Important Note: All emergency numbers are toll-free and can be dialed from any phone, even locked mobile devices or phones without a SIM card. The 112 service supports multiple languages, including Montenegrin, English, and several other European languages. You can also contact emergency services via SMS if you are hearing impaired. Mobile calls to emergency services automatically transmit location data. Emergency calls are prioritized on the network during periods of high traffic.

Understanding Montenegrin Number Formats

Montenegro's phone numbering plan follows a structured format, aligning with international standards while effectively organizing various service types.

Geographic Numbers (Fixed Lines)

Fixed-line numbers in Montenegro adhere to an 8-digit format, incorporating regional prefixes. The general format, including the country code and a possible leading zero, is (+382|0) XX XXXXX, where XX represents the area code.

Here's a breakdown of regional prefixes:

• Podgorica Metropolitan Area: 20
  • Central Business District: Typically 202
  • Residential Areas: 203-206
  • Extended Metropolitan Area: 207-208
• Coastal Region:
  • Herceg Novi: 30
  • Bar: 40
• Northern Region: 50

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in Montenegro follow a consistent format tied to specific operators. The general format is (+382|0) 6X XXXXX, where X represents the operator code.

• Crnogorski Telekom (T-Mobile): 067
• M:tel: 068
• Telenor Montenegro (One): 069

There are also specialized mobile number ranges:

• Data-Only SIMs: 63[024]
• IoT/M2M: 66[0-25]
• 5G Services: Allocated within existing operator ranges.

Value-Added Services

• Toll-Free Numbers: 800 XXXXX or 800 XXXXXX. These numbers are free to call from both fixed and mobile lines and are commonly used for customer service, government helplines, and emergency information.
• Premium Rate Numbers: 94X XXXXX and 95X XXXXX. These numbers carry additional charges and are used for various voice and messaging services. The specific rate (standard, premium, high premium) is indicated by the second digit. For example, 941 is a standard rate, while 945 and 946 indicate higher premium rates. Similarly, 951 is for standard SMS, while 957 and 958 are for premium and interactive SMS services, respectively.

Number Portability and Regulation

Number portability in Montenegro is managed by the Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (EKIP). Mobile number portability is fully implemented, allowing users to switch operators while retaining their existing numbers. The porting process typically takes up to three business days. EKIP has an automated system to verify porting eligibility and provides guidelines on associated fees and procedures to protect consumers. Note that fixed-line number portability is currently limited; consult your service provider for availability. As of late 2023, over 95,000 numbers have been ported in Montenegro, with approximately 10,000 ports occurring in 2022 alone. The majority of ported numbers are mobile, reflecting the dynamic nature of the mobile market.

Technical Implementation: Validating Montenegrin Phone Numbers

Developers should use regular expressions to validate Montenegrin phone numbers. Here's an example using JavaScript:

// Comprehensive validation regex for Montenegro numbers
const patterns = {
  landline: /^(?:\+382|0)?[2-5][0-9]{7}$/,
  mobile: /^(?:\+382|0)?6[7-9][0-9]{6}$/,
  tollFree: /^(?:\+382|0)?800[0-9]{5,6}$/,
  premium: /^(?:\+382|0)?9[45][0-9]{6}$/
};

// Usage example
function validateMontenegrinNumber(number, type) {
  return patterns[type].test(number);
}

// Example usage
console.log(validateMontenegrinNumber("067123456", "mobile")); // true
console.log(validateMontenegrinNumber("+38220123456", "landline")); // true
console.log(validateMontenegrinNumber("80012345", "tollFree")); // true
console.log(validateMontenegrinNumber("941123456", "premium")); // true

Best Practice: Always account for variations in international format (+382) and the presence or absence of leading zeros (0) when implementing validation logic.

Special Number Categories and Allocations

EKIP manages the allocation of special number categories, including premium numbers.

• Ultra-Premium Numbers: These highly sought-after numbers often feature symmetrical patterns (e.g., XX-XX-XX, XXX-XXX), repeating sequences (e.g., 067-777-777), or sequential patterns (e.g., 067-123-456).
• Business-Grade Special Numbers: These numbers may have partial repeating sequences (e.g., 067-XX-7777), memorable combinations, or belong to industry-specific blocks.

There are also number ranges reserved for network operations and special services:

• Network Testing: 059XXXXX
• Operator Services: 14XX, 12XX
• Network Maintenance: 13XX
• Harmonized Services of Social Value: 116XXX
• Directory Services: 118XX

EKIP employs a rigorous quality assurance framework for number assignment, technical verification, service implementation, quality monitoring, and periodic review.

For the most up-to-date technical specifications and allocation procedures, consult the official EKIP documentation portal: https://www.ekip.me/eng/regulation/numbering.php