Understanding Phone Numbers in Venezuela

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Venezuela
• Country Code: +58
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

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Overview

This guide offers an in-depth look at the telephone numbering system in Venezuela, tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators. It covers the structure, dialing procedures, and regulatory aspects of Venezuelan phone numbers.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Venezuelan phone numbers consist of:

• Country Code: +58
• National (Significant) Number: This includes the area code (or mobile prefix) and the subscriber number.
  • Area/City Code: 1 to 3 digits
  • Subscriber Number: 7 to 8 digits

Number Types and Formats

Number Type	Format	Example	Description
Geographic (Landline)	+58 2XX-XXXXXXX	+58 212-1234567	Typically 3-digit area codes, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.
Mobile	+58 4XX-XXXXXXX	+58 412-1234567	Mobile numbers start with 4XX, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.
Toll-Free	+58 800-XXXXXXX	+58 800-1234567	Toll-free numbers start with 800, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.
Premium Rate	+58 90X-XXXXXXX	+58 900-1234567	Premium rate numbers start with 900 or 901, followed by a 7-digit number.
Emergency Services	911	911	Single short code for emergency services across the country.

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

To validate phone numbers in Venezuela, use the following regular expressions:

• Geographic (Landline):
  ^\+58(2[1-9][0-9])\d{7}$
  

• Mobile:
  ^\+584(12|14|16|24|26)\d{7}$
  

• Toll-Free:
  ^\+58800\d{7}$
  

• Premium Rate:
  ^\+5890[01]\d{7}$
  

• Emergency Services:
  ^911$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
  • Example: 0212-1234567 (for Caracas).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + Mobile Prefix + Subscriber Number.
  • Example: 0412-1234567.
• Mobile to Mobile: Simply dial the Mobile Prefix + Subscriber Number.
  • Example: 0412-1234567.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + Country Code + National Number.
  • Example: 00 1 212-1234567 (calling New York, USA).
• Incoming: Dial +58 + National Number (omit the leading 0).
  • Example: +58 212-1234567.

Number Portability

Venezuela supports number portability, allowing users to retain their mobile numbers when switching operators. This is managed by the Superintendencia Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (SNT).

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Mobile Prefixes	Landline Area Codes
Movistar Venezuela	0412, 0414, 0416	212 (Caracas), 241 (Valencia)
Digitel	0413, 0415	212 (Caracas), 261 (Maracaibo)
Movilnet	0416, 0426	212 (Caracas), 274 (Barquisimeto)

Regulatory Body

The regulatory authority for telecommunications in Venezuela is the Superintendencia Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (SNT).

ITU-T Recommendations

Venezuela adheres to ITU-T standards, including:

• E.164: The international public telecommunication numbering plan.
• E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbers.

Number Allocation and Management

The SNT oversees number allocation and management, ensuring compliance with national and international standards.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Premium numbers may be available at a higher cost.
• Number Blocking: Certain number ranges may be blocked based on regulatory directives.

Technical Considerations for Developers

When integrating Venezuelan phone numbers into software applications, consider:

1. Validation: Use the provided regex patterns for accurate validation.
2. Normalization: Store numbers in a normalized format (e.g., +58XXXXXXXXXX).
3. Portability Checks: Implement checks for number portability.
4. Time Zone Handling: Account for Venezuela's time zone (VET, UTC -4:00).