Maldives Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Introduction

You're building an application that interacts with phone numbers, and you need to handle Maldives numbers correctly. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Maldives telephone numbering system, equipping you with the knowledge to confidently integrate Maldives phone number validation, formatting, and processing into your projects. We'll cover everything from the basic structure of Maldives numbers to advanced topics like number portability and best practices for robust implementation.

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

Understanding the Maldives Numbering Plan

The Maldives uses a surprisingly straightforward national numbering plan. This simplicity, however, demands meticulous attention to detail for accurate processing. Let's break this down into practical steps, starting with the general structure.

General Number Structure

The Maldives employs a unified national numbering plan, meaning no area codes exist. This creates a simplified nationwide system. Here's what you need to know:

• Country Code: +960
• Subscriber Number Length: 7 digits
• Unified System: No area codes

The following diagram illustrates the structure:

graph LR
    A[Country Code] -->|+960| B[Prefix]
    B -->|3/6/7/9| C[6 Digits]
    C -->|XXXXXX| D[Complete Number]

Detailed Number Formats

Different number types are distinguished by their prefixes. You'll need to consider these distinctions in your validation logic. The following table summarizes the various formats:

At this point, you should have a clear understanding of the different number types and their respective formats. Now, let's turn to implementation.

Implementing Number Validation

Robust number validation is crucial for any application dealing with phone numbers. Here's a practical guide to implementing number validation in your applications, along with explanations and considerations for edge cases.

Basic Validation with Regular Expressions

Regular expressions provide a powerful and efficient way to validate Maldives phone numbers. Here's an example in JavaScript:

// Regular expression patterns with explanatory comments
const patterns = {
  // Matches standard 7-digit numbers starting with 3, 6, 7, or 9
  general: /^(?:3|6|7|9)\d{6}$/,
  
  // Matches 7-digit toll-free numbers starting with 800
  tollFree: /^800\d{6}$/,
  
  // Matches 7-digit premium numbers starting with 900
  premiumRate: /^900\d{6}$/
};

function validateMaldivesNumber(number, type = 'general') {
  // Remove any whitespace or hyphens from the input number
  const cleanNumber = number.replace(/[\s-]/g, ''); 
  return patterns[type].test(cleanNumber);
}

// Example usage:
console.log(validateMaldivesNumber('7123456')); // true
console.log(validateMaldivesNumber('800123456', 'tollFree')); // true
console.log(validateMaldivesNumber('900987654', 'premiumRate')); // true
console.log(validateMaldivesNumber('1234567')); // false - invalid prefix
console.log(validateMaldivesNumber('71234567')); // false - invalid length

This code snippet provides a basic validation function. However, in real-world scenarios, you might encounter edge cases, such as numbers with leading '+' or '00' for the country code. You'll need to adapt your validation logic to handle these situations. For example, you might want to strip the leading '+' or '00960' before applying the regular expression.

Handling Number Portability

Number portability allows users to switch providers while keeping their original number. This means a number's prefix might not always indicate its current operator. You should consider integrating a Number Portability Database (NPDB) lookup into your system. This is especially important for routing calls or sending SMS messages.

graph TD
    A[Receive Number] --> B{Check Format}
    B -->|Valid| C[Query NPDB]
    B -->|Invalid| D[Return Error]
    C --> E{Ported Number?}
    E -->|Yes| F[Update Routing]
    E -->|No| G[Use Default Routing]

As highlighted in the Maldives Communications Authority (MCA) documentation (see Additional Context), number portability is available in the Maldives. Users can switch providers after 90 days of activation or last porting, by sending an SMS "PORT" to 234 to receive a Unique Porting Code (UPC). This UPC is then used to complete the porting process with the new provider. This context is crucial for developers working with Maldives numbers.

Advanced Validation and Formatting

Consider building a more comprehensive validation function that includes checks for length, prefix, and format, and returns more detailed information about the validation result.

enum ValidationError {
  INVALID_LENGTH = 'Invalid number length',
  INVALID_PREFIX = 'Invalid prefix',
  INVALID_FORMAT = 'Invalid number format'
}

interface ValidationResult {
  isValid: boolean;
  error?: ValidationError;
  metadata?: {
    operator: string; // This would require an NPDB lookup
    numberType: string;
  };
}

function validateAndFormatMaldivesNumber(number: string): ValidationResult {
  // Implementation for validation and formatting, including NPDB lookup if available
  // ...
}

This enhanced function provides a more robust and informative validation process. Remember to handle potential errors gracefully and provide helpful error messages to your users.

Implementation Best Practices

Here are some best practices to consider when working with Maldives phone numbers:

• Always sanitize input: Remove whitespace, hyphens, and other non-numeric characters before validation.
• Handle international prefixes: Account for numbers starting with '+960', '00960', or just the local part.
• Consider number portability: Implement NPDB lookups where accuracy is critical.
• Provide clear error messages: Guide users towards correcting invalid input.
• Stay updated: Telecommunications regulations can change. Refer to the MCA website for the latest information. For example, the introduction of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in 2016 (see Additional Context) significantly impacted how numbers are managed.

Conclusion

With the groundwork laid, you're now equipped to handle Maldives phone numbers effectively in your applications. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this guide, you can ensure accurate validation, formatting, and processing, leading to a smoother user experience. Remember to consult the MCA website and other relevant resources for the most up-to-date information.