Phone Numbers in Rwanda: A Technical Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Rwanda
• Country Code: +250
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0
• Regulatory Authority: Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)

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Overview

This guide offers an in-depth look at Rwanda's telephone numbering plan, including its structure, formats, and dialing procedures. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators who require precise and current information on Rwanda's phone number system.

Number Formats

Rwanda’s telephone numbering plan adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard. The numbering system is structured as follows:

General Structure

• Country Code: +250
• National Destination Code (NDC): Identifies a specific geographic area or service type.
• Subscriber Number (SN): Unique number assigned to each subscriber within the NDC.

Detailed Number Formats

Service Type	Format	Example	Description
Fixed-Line	+250 2XX XXX XXX	+250 252 123 456	2XX identifies the fixed-line network.
Mobile	+250 7XX XXX XXX	+250 788 123 456	7XX identifies the mobile network.
Toll-Free	+250 800 XXX XXX	+250 800 123 456	800 is used for toll-free services.
Premium Rate	+250 900 XXX XXX	+250 900 123 456	900 is used for premium rate services.
Emergency Services	XXX	112	Short codes for emergency services (e.g., police, fire).

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

• Fixed-Line: ^\(\+250\)?2\d{8}$
• Mobile: ^\(\+250\)?7[2389]\d{7}$
• Toll-Free: ^\(\+250\)?800\d{6}$
• Premium Rate: ^\(\+250\)?900\d{6}$
• Emergency Services: ^\d{3}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the full 9-digit number (e.g., 0252123456).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the full 10-digit number (e.g., 0788123456).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the full 10-digit number (e.g., 0788123456).
• Mobile to Landline: Dial the full 9-digit number (e.g., 0252123456).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (international prefix), followed by the country code, area code (if applicable), and the subscriber number.
  • Example: To call a US number from Rwanda: 00 1 555 123 4567.
• Incoming: Dial +250 followed by the NDC and the subscriber number.
  • Example: To call a Rwandan mobile number from abroad: +250 788 123 456.

Number Portability

Rwanda has implemented number portability for both mobile and fixed-line services. This allows subscribers to retain their phone numbers when switching between service providers. The implementation was overseen by RURA, ensuring compliance with international standards.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Prefix	Example
MTN Rwanda	Mobile	078	+250 788 123 456
Airtel Rwanda	Mobile	072	+250 728 123 456
MTN Rwanda	Fixed-Line	28	+250 282 123 456
Airtel Rwanda	Fixed-Line	22	+250 222 123 456

ITU-T Standards Relevant to Rwanda

Rwanda’s telephone numbering system adheres to the ITU-T E.164 recommendation, ensuring compatibility and interoperability in international telecommunications. The E.164 standard specifies that phone numbers should include a country code, followed by a national destination code and a subscriber number.

Number Allocation and Management

The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) is responsible for the allocation and management of phone numbers in Rwanda. RURA ensures that the numbering plan is efficient and meets the needs of both consumers and telecom operators.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: There are no publicly available details on the allocation of golden numbers in Rwanda.
• Number Blocking: Specific information on number blocking practices in Rwanda is not available.

Technical Considerations

For developers and systems administrators handling Rwandan phone numbers, consider the following:

• Validation: Implement regular expressions as shown above to validate phone numbers.
• Portability: Ensure systems can handle number portability, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching providers.
• Formatting: Always format numbers according to the E.164 standard for international compatibility.
• Emergency Numbers: Implement short-code dialing for emergency services.