Phone Numbers in Samoa: A Comprehensive Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Samoa
• Country Code: +685
• International Prefix: 0
• National Prefix: None

Overview

This guide offers a detailed overview of Samoa's telephone numbering plan, including formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory insights. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and businesses to effectively manage Samoan phone numbers.

Numbering Plan Structure

Samoa's numbering system is simple, with no area codes and a uniform format across services.

Key Components

• Country Code: +685
• Subscriber Number Length: 5 to 7 digits
• Prefixes:
  • Landline Numbers: Start with digits 2-5
  • Mobile Numbers: Start with digits 7 or 8
  • Toll-Free Numbers: Start with 800

General Number Format

The general format for Samoan phone numbers is:

[2-5]XXXX | 60XXXX | 7[1-35-7]XXXXX | 8[3-7]XXXXX | 800XXX

Regular Expressions

Validate Samoan phone numbers using these regular expressions:

• Landline Numbers: ^6[1-9][0-9]{3}$ | ^[2-5][0-9]{4}$ | ^60[0-9]{4}$
• Mobile Numbers: ^7[1-35-7][0-9]{5}$ | ^8[3-7][0-9]{5}$
• Toll-Free Numbers: ^800[0-9]{3}$

Number Format Table

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 5 or 6-digit local number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (international access code) + country code + local number. For example, to call New Zealand: 00 + 64 + local number.
• Incoming: Dial +685 followed by the local number (no national prefix is required).

Number Portability

Currently, mobile number portability is not available in Samoa, meaning subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching service providers.

Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Samoa's telecom market is served by several operators, including:

• Digicel Samoa
• Bluesky Samoa

Specific number ranges for each operator are not publicly disclosed.

Regulatory Body

The telecommunications sector in Samoa is regulated by the Office of the Regulator (OOTR). For the latest information on numbering plans and regulations, visit their official website.

ITU-T Recommendations

Samoa's numbering plan adheres to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, which sets the international public telecommunication numbering plan.

Number Allocation and Management

The Office of the Regulator manages number allocation and ensures compliance with international standards.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and System Administrators

• Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate Samoan phone numbers.
• Formatting: Maintain correct formats for display and storage.
• Time Zone Awareness: Samoa operates in the UTC+13 time zone, important for scheduling calls or messages.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: No specific information on golden numbers is available.
• Number Blocking: No known restrictions on number blocking within Samoa's numbering plan.

Conclusion

Samoa's telephone numbering plan is straightforward, with consistent formats across services. By adhering to the guidelines and technical considerations outlined here, professionals can ensure accurate handling of Samoan phone numbers in their systems.