This guide offers a comprehensive look at Sint Maarten's telephone numbering system, crucial for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators. It covers local number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory guidelines.
Number Formats
Sint Maarten adheres to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), shared with the US, Canada, and other Caribbean nations. The standard phone number format is:
+1 721 NXX XXXX
General Number Structure
Country Code: +1
Area Code: 721
Subscriber Number Length: 7 digits (NXX XXXX)
Number Formats by Type
Type
Format
Example
Description
Landline
+1 721 5XX XXXX
+1 721 542 1234
Typically starts with 5XX, where X can be any digit between 0-9.
Mobile
+1 721 5XX XXXX
+1 721 520 1234
Typically starts with 5XX, where X can be any digit between 0-9.
Toll-Free
+1 800 XXX XXXX
+1 800 123 4567
Follows the North American toll-free format, starting with 800.
Premium Rate
+1 900 XXX XXXX
+1 900 123 4567
Premium rate services, typically starting with 900.
Regular Expressions for Number Validation
For developers, use these regex patterns to validate Sint Maarten phone numbers:
General Numbers:
^\+1\s721\s[2-9]\d{2}\s\d{4}$
Landline Numbers:
^\+1\s721\s5[2-8]\d\s\d{4}$
Mobile Numbers:
^\+1\s721\s5[0-9]\d\s\d{4}$
Toll-Free Numbers:
^\+1\s800\s\d{3}\s\d{4}$
Premium Rate Numbers:
^\+1\s900\s\d{3}\s\d{4}$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial 1 + 721 + NXX XXXX
Landline to Mobile: Dial 1 + 721 + NXX XXXX
Mobile to Mobile: Dial 1 + 721 + NXX XXXX
International Calls
Outgoing: Dial 011 + Country Code + Area Code + Subscriber Number
Incoming: From abroad, dial +1 721 followed by the NXX XXXX.
Sint Maarten supports mobile number portability (MNP), allowing users to retain their numbers when changing service providers, ensuring continuity in communications.
Major Telecom Operators
TelEm Group: Uses prefixes like 520, 521, 522 for mobile services.
UTS (United Telecommunication Services): Uses prefixes like 580, 581, 582.
ITU Standards
Sint Maarten complies with the ITU-T E.164 standard for international telephone numbering, ensuring global uniqueness and compatibility.