Reunion Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on Réunion's telephone numbering plan. This resource is designed to equip you, the developer, with the essential knowledge and practical tools to handle Réunion phone numbers correctly within your applications and systems. We'll cover everything from basic validation to best practices, ensuring your integrations are seamless and compliant.

Why Accurate Phone Number Handling Matters

Before diving into the specifics, let's consider why accurate phone number handling is crucial. In today's interconnected world, phone numbers are more than just contact details; they are often key identifiers in user accounts, transaction systems, and various other applications. Incorrectly formatted or invalid numbers can lead to failed transactions, communication breakdowns, and even security vulnerabilities. By implementing robust validation and formatting procedures, you can ensure data integrity, improve user experience, and enhance the overall reliability of your systems. This is especially important in a global context, where international numbering standards play a vital role.

Validation Implementation Guide

This section provides a detailed guide to validating Réunion phone numbers, ensuring your applications handle them accurately and efficiently.

Standards Compliance

The validation patterns for Réunion phone numbers adhere strictly to the [ITU-T E.164 international standards](https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.164/en). These standards define the global framework for public telecommunication numbering, ensuring consistency across platforms and services. By adhering to these standards, you ensure interoperability with international systems and contribute to a more unified telecommunications landscape.

Pattern Design Principles

Our validation patterns are built on several key principles to ensure accuracy and prevent common errors. These principles are designed to give you, the developer, a robust and reliable framework for handling Réunion phone numbers.

1. Exact Matching: We use start (^) and end ($) anchors in our regular expressions to enforce complete number validation. This prevents partial matches and ensures that only correctly formatted numbers are accepted. For example, the pattern ^0262\d{6}$ requires the entire input string to match the specified format.

2. Format-Specific Validation: Each number type has a dedicated validation pattern. This granular approach allows for precise validation based on the specific type of number being processed. You should consider this when designing your validation logic.

   • Landline: ^0262\d{6}$
   • Mobile: ^0692\d{6}$ , ^0693\d{6}$, ^0694\d{6}$ (covering all major mobile operators)
   • Shared Cost: ^081[0-9]\d{6}$

Implementation Guidelines

When implementing validation, consider both domestic and international formats. This dual approach ensures your application can handle numbers regardless of their presentation.

// Domestic format validation
const domesticPattern = /^0262\d{6}$/;
const domesticNumber = "0262123456";

if (domesticPattern.test(domesticNumber)) {
  console.log("Domestic number is valid");
}

// International format validation
const intlPattern = /^\+262262\d{6}$/;
const intlNumber = "+262262123456";

if (intlPattern.test(intlNumber)) {
  console.log("International number is valid");
}

Special Considerations

Certain number types require special handling due to their unique characteristics. You should be aware of these nuances when designing your validation logic.

Shared Cost Numbers

Shared cost numbers (081) have specific billing structures. These numbers follow ARCEP's interconnection guidelines for cost distribution. You might want to incorporate this information into your application logic.

// Shared cost validation with billing type check
const sharedCostPattern = /^081[0-9]\d{6}$/;
const billingTypeCheck = (number) => {
    const prefix = number.substring(3, 4);
    return {
        isValid: sharedCostPattern.test(number),
        billingType: parseInt(prefix) <= 5 ? "low-rate" : "high-rate"
    };
};

Validation Best Practices

Implementing these best practices will help you create more robust and reliable validation procedures.

1. Input Sanitization: Always sanitize user input before validation. This removes extraneous characters and ensures consistency.

   const sanitizeNumber = (number) => {
       return number.replace(/\s+/g, '').replace(/-/g, '');
   };
   

2. Format Detection: Detect the format (domestic or international) before applying the appropriate validation pattern.

   const detectFormat = (number) => {
       return number.startsWith('+') ? 'international' : 'domestic';
   };
   

Info: For the latest validation requirements and pricing structures, refer to ARCEP's VAS pricing guidelines. Staying up-to-date with these guidelines is crucial for maintaining compliance and ensuring accurate billing.

Common Validation Scenarios

Here are some common validation scenarios and how to handle them effectively. These examples provide practical guidance for implementing validation in your applications.

1. Basic Number Validation: This scenario demonstrates a basic validation function that checks a given number against known patterns.

   const validateReunionNumber = (number) => {
       const patterns = {
           landline: /^0262\d{6}$/,
           mobile: /^069[234]\d{6}$/, // Consolidated mobile pattern
           sharedCost: /^081[0-9]\d{6}$/
       };
       
       return Object.entries(patterns).find(([type, pattern]) => 
           pattern.test(number)
       )?.[0] || false;
   };
   
   // Example usage
   console.log(validateReunionNumber("0262123456")); // Output: landline
   console.log(validateReunionNumber("0692987654")); // Output: mobile
   console.log(validateReunionNumber("0811543210")); // Output: sharedCost
   console.log(validateReunionNumber("1234567890")); // Output: false
   

2. International Format Handling: This scenario shows how to convert a domestic number to international format.

   const convertToInternational = (number) => {
       return number.replace(/^0/, '+262');
   };
   

At this point, you should have a solid understanding of how to validate Réunion phone numbers. Remember, accurate validation is essential for ensuring data integrity and a smooth user experience.

Number Formats and Operators

This section provides a detailed overview of Réunion's number formats, including mobile prefixes and operators. Understanding these details is crucial for accurate number parsing and routing.

Understanding Mobile Prefixes and Operators

Réunion's mobile landscape is dominated by three major operators, each with distinct prefix allocations. As a developer, you should be familiar with these prefixes to correctly identify the operator associated with a given mobile number. This information can be valuable for various purposes, such as routing calls, sending SMS messages, or providing customized services based on the user's operator.

1. Orange Réunion (Market Leader): Known for its extensive coverage and reliable service, Orange Réunion holds a significant market share.

   • Primary Prefix: 0692
   • Additional Range: 0693
   • Service Coverage: Island-wide, including remote areas

2. SFR Réunion (Secondary Provider): SFR Réunion is a strong competitor, offering high-speed data services and competitive pricing.

   • Primary Prefix: 0693
   • Additional Range: 0692
   • Notable for: High-speed data services

3. Free Réunion (Emerging Provider): Free Réunion is gaining popularity with its competitive pricing and innovative packages.

   • Primary Prefix: 0694
   • Known for: Competitive pricing and innovative packages

Tip: All mobile numbers follow the standardized format: 069X XXX XXX, where X represents the operator-specific digit. This consistent format simplifies parsing and validation.

It's important to note that number portability exists in Réunion, meaning users can retain their number even when switching operators. Therefore, while prefixes can indicate the original operator, they may not always reflect the current provider. Services like phone number validation APIs (as mentioned in the Additional Context) can help you identify the current operator and line type, providing more accurate and up-to-date information. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to verify user data or perform lead scoring.

Critical Emergency Services

Réunion maintains a comprehensive emergency response system aligned with European standards. Your applications should handle these numbers correctly to ensure users can access emergency services quickly and reliably.

• 15: SAMU (Emergency Medical Services)
• 17: Police
• 18: Fire Brigade
• 112: European Emergency Number
• 115: Emergency Shelter
• 119: Child Protection

Important: All emergency numbers are toll-free, accessible from any network, available to roaming users, and operational 24/7. Ensure your applications recognize and prioritize these numbers.

Service Number Categories

Réunion uses specialized number ranges for various services. Understanding these categories can help you categorize numbers and apply appropriate handling logic.

1. Toll-Free Services (0800 XXX XXX): These numbers are free to call and are typically used for customer support, public service hotlines, and information services.

2. Shared-Cost Services (0810 XXX XXX): These numbers incur local rate charges and are often used for technical support and booking services.

3. Premium Services (0892 XXX XXX): These numbers carry premium rates and are commonly used for professional consultations and entertainment services.

To recap, this section has provided a detailed overview of Réunion's number formats and operators. This information is essential for building applications that handle Réunion phone numbers correctly and efficiently. By understanding the nuances of mobile prefixes, emergency services, and service number categories, you can ensure your applications are compliant, reliable, and user-friendly.

Quick Reference

This quick reference provides a concise summary of key information about Réunion's phone number system.

• Country: Réunion
• Country Code: +262
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview of Réunion's telephone numbering system. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined here, you can ensure your applications handle Réunion phone numbers accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with international standards. Remember to stay updated with the latest regulations and best practices to maintain the highest level of accuracy and reliability in your systems.