Number Format
Area Code: none
Subscriber Number: 7 digits
Trunk Prefix: 1
International Prefix: 011
2 October 2004 - American Samoa moves from +684 to +1 684
American Samoa formerly operated under country code +684, assigned
on or before the 1964 CCITT Blue Book.
Other United States Pacific island territories
(Guam and Northern Marianas)
had replaced their direct country code access with area codes under the
North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
during 1997-1998.
After speculation when American Samoa would also join NANP, +1 684
(NPA/area code 684) became a reserved area code.
A formal migration plan from +684 to +1 684 was approved by March 2003.
Migration timeline:
-
April 2001: United States and American Samoa territorial governments,
in conjunction with the primary telecom carrier makes a "formal" application
to the ATIS-INC and
NANPA and
FCC, to officially join the NANP.
Various US Federal Government agencies have reportedly wanted this
for several years.
-
24 December 2002: United States regulator Federal Communications Commission
approves plan to include American Samoa in the
NANP (country code +1).
-
24 January 2003: NANPA formally
assigns +1 684 (NPA/area code 684) for American Samoa.
-
3 March 2003: first telecom industry conference call on incorporating
American Samoa into the NANP.
-
24 March 2003: NANPA issues
Planning Letter PL-330 outlining the migration plan for American
Samoa.
-
2 September 2004: test number available by this date:
+1 684 633.0001
-
2 October 2004: permissive dialling of +1 684 begins (+684 country code
may still be used until mandatory dialling commences). Also, American Samoa
carriers may request "Central office" or exchange codes from
NANPA (that is, the three digits past
+1 684, or first three digits of 7-digit subscriber number).
-
2 April 2005: mandatory dialling commences - calls to American Samoa must
be made using +1 684 (North American Numbering Plan). Attempts to use
country code +684 will obtain a recorded message. Also, the test number
established for 2 September 2004 is expected to be discontinued.
Country code +684 becomes an available code for ITU assignment.
-
2 April 2007: recorded message advising of discontinued +684 country
code is to remain available until this date.
American Samoa number ranges as of 3 Mar 2003, with +684
changed to +1 684 for the following number ranges:
Former Range Locality/Service Carrier
============ ================ =======
+684 258 wireless PCS Blue Sky
+684 622 Fagaitua ASTCA
+684 633 Fagatogo ASTCA
+684 644 Satala ASTCA
+684 655 Ofu ASTCA
+684 677 Tau ASTCA
+684 688 Leone ASTCA
+684 691 Olotele/Aoloau ASTCA
+684 699 Tafuna ASTCA
+684 733 wireless cellular ASTCA
ASTCA = American Samoa Telecommunications Authority
American Samoa is not to be confused with the separate nation,
Samoa +685 (formerly Western Samoa),
whose telephone system and numbering plan significantly differ from
NANP standards.
Sources:
NANP information on American Samoa.
NANPA announcement (9 September 2004, via ITU)
Additional background and timeline information courtesy Mark Cuccia.
Also corrections courtesy David Cantrell.
Other information
Details of entry into NANP (+1) are in
NANPA Planning Letter (PL-330) of 2003.
See United States Pacific Islands section.
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