Phone Numbers in Maldives: A Comprehensive Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Maldives
• Country Code: +960
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None
• Regulatory Authority: Maldives Communications Authority (MCA)
• ITU-T Standards: E.123, E.164

Overview

Discover the intricacies of the Maldives' telephone numbering plan, including dialing procedures, number formats, and telecommunications standards. This guide is essential for developers, telecom professionals, and businesses operating in the Maldives.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

• Country Code: +960
• Subscriber Number Length: 7 digits
• No Area Codes: Uniform numbering plan across the country.

Detailed Number Formats

Number Type	Format	Example	Description
Geographic	3XXXXXX, 6XXXXXX	3345678, 6123456	Fixed-line numbers for residential and business use.
Mobile	7XXXXXX, 9XXXXXX	7123456, 9123456	Mobile numbers used across all networks.
Toll-Free	800XXXXXX	8001234567	Toll-free numbers for customer service or helplines.
Premium Rate	900XXXXXX	9001234567	Premium rate numbers for services like voting and contests.
Emergency Services	119, 102, 118	119, 102, 118	Short codes for emergency services (e.g., police, fire, ambulance).

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

• General Numbers:
  ^(?:3|6|7|9)\d{6}$
  

• Toll-Free Numbers:
  ^800\d{7}$
  

• Premium Rate Numbers:
  ^900\d{7}$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 7-digit subscriber number.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + [Country Code] + [Subscriber Number].
  • Example: To call the United States, dial 00 1 XXX XXXX.
• Incoming: Dial +960 followed by the 7-digit local number.

Number Portability

• Mobile Number Portability (MNP): Available, allowing users to retain numbers when switching operators.
• Fixed-Line Number Portability: Not supported.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Number Range	Service Type
Dhiraagu	7XXXXXX, 3XXXXXX	Mobile, Fixed-Line
Ooredoo Maldives	9XXXXXX, 6XXXXXX	Mobile, Fixed-Line

ITU-T Recommendations

The Maldives follows ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164:

• E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbers.
• E.164: International public telecommunication numbering plan.

Number Allocation and Management

• Regulatory Body: The Maldives Communications Authority (MCA) manages phone numbers.
• Number Allocation: Based on service requirements and market demand.
• Special Cases: Golden numbers may be auctioned or specially allocated.

Technical Restrictions

• Golden Numbers: Reserved or auctioned for desirable patterns.
• Number Blocking: Prevents misuse or fraud by blocking specific numbers.

Technical Considerations for Developers

• Validation: Use provided regex for validating Maldives phone numbers.
• Formatting: Ensure numbers follow ITU-T E.123 for international compatibility.
• Portability Handling: Implement checks for number portability.
• Error Handling: Address edge cases like invalid number lengths or prefixes.

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This guide equips telecom professionals, developers, and businesses with the technical knowledge needed to manage Maldives phone numbers effectively, adhering to international standards and providing actionable insights for various applications.