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Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in Zambia

Quick Reference

  • Country: Zambia
  • Country Code: +260
  • International Prefix: 00
  • National Prefix: 0

Overview

This guide offers a detailed examination of Zambia's telephone numbering system, covering number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory guidelines. It is designed for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators seeking precise and current insights into Zambia's telecommunications infrastructure.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Zambia's phone numbers adhere to the ITU-T Recommendation E.164, maintaining a fixed length of 9 digits, excluding the country code. The structure includes geographic, mobile, toll-free, and special service numbers.

Geographic Numbers

Geographic numbers are allocated based on regional area codes:

  • Format: 21[1-8] X{6}
  • Example: 211123456 (Lusaka Province)
ProvinceArea CodeExample
Lusaka Province211211123456
Copperbelt Province212212123456
Southern Province213213123456
Northern Province214214123456
Central Province215215123456
Eastern Province216216123456
Western Province217217123456
North Western Province218218123456

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in Zambia generally start with 7 or 9, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number:

  • Format: 7[5-9] X{7} or 9[5-6] X{7}
  • Example: 977123456 (Airtel Zambia)
OperatorPrefixExample
ZAMTEL095, 0960961234567
MTN0960961234567
Airtel0970971234567

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers begin with 800, followed by a 6-digit subscriber number:

  • Format: 800 X{6}
  • Example: 800123456

Special Service Numbers

Special service numbers are used for premium-rate services or VoIP:

  • Format: 60-62 X{6}, 90-94 X{6}
  • Example: 90123456 (Premium Rate Service)

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

For developers, use these regex patterns to validate Zambian phone numbers:

  • Geographic Numbers: /^21[1-8]\d{6}$/
  • Mobile Numbers: /^7[5-9]\d{7}$|^9[5-6]\d{7}$/
  • Toll-Free Numbers: /^800\d{6}$/
  • Special Service Numbers: /^60[0-2]\d{6}$|^9[0-4]\d{6}$/

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

  • Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + area code + subscriber number.
    Example: 0211123456

  • Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + mobile number.
    Example: 0971234567

  • Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly.
    Example: 0971234567

International Calls

  • Outgoing: Dial 00 + country code + area code (if applicable) + subscriber number.
    Example: 00 1 2123456789 (Calling the USA)

  • Incoming: Dial +260 + area code + subscriber number, omitting the national prefix 0.
    Example: +260 211234567

Number Portability

Currently, Zambia does not support number portability for mobile or fixed-line services, meaning subscribers cannot keep their numbers when switching providers.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Major Telecom Operators

  1. ZAMTEL:
    • Geographic Numbers: 211, 212, 213, etc.
    • Mobile Services: 095, 096
  2. MTN:
    • Mobile Services: 096
  3. Airtel:
    • Mobile Services: 097

ITU-T Recommendations

Zambia follows the ITU-T Recommendation E.164 for its national numbering plan. The country code +260 is officially assigned to Zambia by the ITU.

Number Allocation and Management

Regulatory Body

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) is responsible for managing and allocating phone numbers in Zambia, ensuring compliance with international standards and overseeing number range assignments to telecom operators.

Number Allocation

Number blocks are allocated based on demand and regulatory guidelines. ZICTA manages the national numbering plan and reviews allocations periodically to ensure efficient use of resources.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

Golden Numbers

Zambia does not publicly provide information on the regulation of "golden numbers" (premium numbers with memorable sequences).

Number Blocking

While specific information on number blocking is not available, ZICTA has the authority to block numbers or ranges for regulatory or security reasons.

Technical Considerations for Developers

  • Validation: Use the provided regex patterns to validate Zambian phone numbers in applications.
  • Formatting: Store and process numbers in E.164 format for international interoperability.
  • Dialing Logic: Implement logic to handle domestic and international dialing rules, including the correct application of prefixes.

For the latest telecommunications regulations in Zambia, visit the ZICTA official website.

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