Understanding Phone Numbers in Romania

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Romania
• Country Code: +40
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview of Romania's Telephone Numbering Plan

Romania's telephone numbering system is designed according to the ITU-T Recommendation E.164 and is regulated by the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM). This plan encompasses various types of numbers, including geographic, mobile, toll-free, premium-rate, and shared-cost numbers, each with distinct formats and prefixes.

Number Structure

Romanian phone numbers are composed of several key components:

• Country Code: +40
• National Significant Number (NSN): A 9-digit number, incorporating an area code (for landlines) or a mobile network code (for mobile numbers) followed by the subscriber number.
• Area Codes: Two-digit codes for geographic regions.
• Mobile Network Codes: Two-digit codes for mobile networks.
• Subscriber Number: Typically 7 digits.

General Format

The standard format for Romanian phone numbers is:

+40 [Area Code/Mobile Network Code] [Subscriber Number]

Number Formats by Type

Regular Expressions for Validation

Use these regular expressions to validate Romanian phone numbers:

• Landline:
  ^\+40[2-3][1-9]\d{7}$
  

• Mobile:
  ^\+407[0-9]\d{7}$
  

• Toll-Free:
  ^\+40800\d{6}$
  

• Premium Rate:
  ^\+4090[0-3]\d{6}$
  

• Shared Cost:
  ^\+40801\d{6}$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the area code followed by the subscriber number (e.g., 021 1234567).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile network code followed by the subscriber number (e.g., 072 1234567).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile network code followed by the subscriber number (e.g., 072 1234567).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (international prefix), followed by the country code, area code (if applicable), and the subscriber number.
  Example: To call a number in the United States from Romania: 00 1 555 1234567.
• Incoming: Callers from abroad should dial +40, followed by the area code or mobile network code, and the subscriber number.
  Example: +40 21 1234567 (for a landline in Bucharest).

Number Portability

Romania offers number portability for both mobile and fixed-line numbers, enabling users to retain their numbers when switching service providers. This service has been available since 2008, regulated by ANCOM.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Technical Considerations

Number Allocation and Management

The allocation and management of phone numbers in Romania are overseen by ANCOM, ensuring compliance with ITU-T standards and addressing the needs of both consumers and telecom operators.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Certain memorable numbers, known as "golden numbers," may be reserved or sold at a premium. These numbers are subject to specific regulations by ANCOM.
• Number Blocking: Specific number ranges may be blocked or restricted for reasons such as fraud prevention or regulatory compliance.

ITU-T Standards

Romania's numbering plan adheres to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, standardizing international telephone numbering.

Recent Changes to the Numbering Plan

As of the latest updates, there have been no significant changes to Romania's numbering plan. The most notable change occurred on May 3, 2008, when the dialing plan for landline numbers was standardized to require full dialing, including the area code.