Martinique Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Introduction

You're building an application that interacts with phone numbers, and you need to handle Martinique numbers correctly. This guide provides a deep dive into Martinique's phone number system, offering everything you need to know, from formatting and validation to best practices and regulatory context. We'll equip you with the knowledge and tools to seamlessly integrate Martinique numbers into your projects.

Quick Reference

• Country: Martinique (French Overseas Territory)
• Country Code: +596
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Background and Regulatory Overview

Martinique, as a French overseas territory, adheres to the French numbering plan governed by ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes). This alignment ensures consistency with European telecommunications standards and provides a robust framework for number management. ARCEP plays a vital role in ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, and efficient resource allocation within the telecommunications sector. You should be aware that ARCEP mandates quarterly reports from operators detailing number utilization and regulatory compliance. This rigorous oversight contributes to maintaining high service quality standards across Martinique.

Number Structure and Formatting

Deconstructing Martinique's Numbering System

Martinique uses a 10-digit numbering system for both landlines and mobile phones. This standardized approach simplifies number management and ensures consistency across the island. The structure follows a logical pattern:

[Country Code] + [Area/Service Code] + [Subscriber Number]
     +596      +      [3-7]/696     +     XXXXXXX

Let's break down each component:

• Country Code (+596): This identifies Martinique in international calls.
• Area/Service Code: This distinguishes between landlines (3-7) and mobiles (696). It can also indicate specific service providers or geographic areas.
• Subscriber Number: The unique identifier for the individual subscriber.

Categorizing Number Types

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of number categories, formats, and usage contexts:

Developer Implementation Guide

Robust Number Validation with Regular Expressions

You'll need reliable validation to ensure data integrity. Here are regular expressions you can implement in your applications:

// Landline validation
const landlineRegex = /^596[3-7]\d{7}$/;

// Mobile validation – accounts for variations in subscriber number length
const mobileRegex = /^596696[0-46-9]\d{6}$|^5966965[0-6]\d{5}$/;

// Toll-Free validation
const tollFreeRegex = /^800[0-5]\d{6}$/;

// Usage example
function validateMartiniqueNumber(number, type) {
  const cleanNumber = number.replace(/\D/g, ''); // Remove non-digit characters
  switch(type) {
    case 'landline':
      return landlineRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    case 'mobile':
      return mobileRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    case 'tollfree':
      return tollFreeRegex.test(cleanNumber);
    default:
      return false;
  }
}

// Example test cases
console.log(validateMartiniqueNumber("59631234567", "landline")); // true
console.log(validateMartiniqueNumber("+5966962123456", "mobile")); // true
console.log(validateMartiniqueNumber("8005123456", "tollfree")); // true
console.log(validateMartiniqueNumber("5962123456", "landline")); // false - incorrect length
console.log(validateMartiniqueNumber("6962123456", "mobile")); // false - missing country code

These examples demonstrate how to use the validation function and highlight potential failure scenarios due to incorrect length or missing country codes. Remember to adapt these examples to your specific use case and programming language.

Number Formatting and Display

Presenting numbers in a user-friendly format is crucial for a good user experience. Consider the following function:

function formatMartiniqueNumber(number, format = 'international') {
  const cleaned = number.replace(/\D/g, ''); // Sanitize input

  switch(format) {
    case 'international':
      return `+596 ${cleaned.slice(3, 6)} ${cleaned.slice(6)}`; // +596 XXX XXXXX
    case 'national':
      return `0${cleaned.slice(3, 6)} ${cleaned.slice(6)}`; // 0XXX XXXXX
    case 'e164': // [E.164 format](https://www.sent.dm/resources/e164-phone-format) (commonly used for APIs)
      return `+${cleaned}`;
    default:
      return cleaned; // Return sanitized number if format is unknown
  }
}

// Example usage
console.log(formatMartiniqueNumber("59631234567", "international")); // +596 312 34567
console.log(formatMartiniqueNumber("031234567", "national")); // 0312 34567
console.log(formatMartiniqueNumber("5966962123456", "e164")); // +5966962123456

This function provides flexibility for different display scenarios, including international, national, and E.164 formats. You can adapt this code to handle additional formatting requirements.

Handling Number Portability

Number portability (MNP) allows users to switch carriers while keeping their number. This adds complexity to number management. Here's how to address it:

• Local Caching: Cache operator prefixes locally to improve performance.
• Regular Updates: Implement regular updates to your prefix database to reflect porting changes.
• Asynchronous Validation: Use asynchronous validation for real-time operator checking, especially during critical operations like billing or routing.
• Graceful Exception Handling: Implement robust error handling to manage ported number exceptions and prevent disruptions to your service.

Martinique's MNP system, launched in 2006, follows a 10-day porting process, aligned with European best practices. This standardized timeframe helps manage expectations and ensures a smooth transition for users.

Error Handling

Effective error handling is essential for a robust application. Consider this example:

function handleNumberError(number, error) {
  const errorTypes = {
    INVALID_FORMAT: 'Number format invalid for Martinique',
    UNSUPPORTED_PREFIX: 'Prefix not recognized',
    WRONG_LENGTH: 'Invalid number length',
    PORTING_ERROR: 'Error checking number portability' // Add portability-related errors
  };

  // Log error for monitoring and debugging
  console.error(`Number validation failed for ${number}: ${error}`);

  // Return a user-friendly message
  return errorTypes[error] || 'Number validation failed';
}

This expanded error handling function includes portability-related errors and provides more specific error messages, improving the developer experience and aiding in debugging.

Essential Services and Emergency Numbers

Your application must handle emergency numbers correctly. Here's a list of crucial numbers:

Warning: Always prioritize routing for emergency numbers and ensure 100% uptime for these critical services.

Major Telecom Operators and Market Structure

Understanding the telecommunications landscape in Martinique can provide valuable context for your development efforts. Here are some key players:

It's important to note that the frequency licenses for the 900 MHz band in Martinique are set to expire on April 30, 2025. This, along with ARCEP's ongoing frequency assignments in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands, will likely reshape the telecommunications landscape in the coming years. These changes are driven by the increasing demand for high-quality, reliable superfast mobile services. You should monitor these developments and adapt your applications accordingly. Four firms—Digicel AFG, Free Caraïbe, Orange, and Outremer Telecom—have applied for these new frequency assignments, indicating their commitment to expanding and improving mobile services in Martinique.

Conclusion

You now have a comprehensive understanding of Martinique's phone number system. By implementing the guidelines and best practices outlined in this guide, you can ensure your applications handle Martinique numbers accurately, efficiently, and reliably. Remember to stay updated on regulatory changes and market developments to maintain optimal performance and compliance.