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|tz| Tanzania +255

Number Format

Area Code:            2 digits (formerly 2-3)
Subscriber Number:    7 digits (formerly 4-7)
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 000

Area code information

January 2005 - June 2006 - national renumbering

Tanzania changed its mobile number formats, and update certain other service numbers during 2005 and 2006.

From 1 January to 31 March 2005, numbers were re-assigned and announcements of the changes were published.

On 1 April 2005, new numbering was activated. The old number format ran permissive with the new format until 29 June 2006.

On 30 June 2006 (postponed from 31 December 2005), the old numbering became unavailable, and new numbering became mandatory.

Source: TCRA announcement (8 December 2005, via ITU)

previous TCRA announcement (8 February 2005, via ITU).

Assigned number ranges

International  Domestic
format         format    Service/Purpose
-------------  --------  ---------------
+255 0...      00...     regional/international prefix
+255 1...      01...     reserved for carrier selection
+255 2...      02...     PSTN services
+255 3...      03...     for future PSTN services
+255 4...      04...     for future use
+255 5...      05...     corporate networks
+255 6...      06...     for future use ('Find me anywhere', paging, etc)
+255 7...      07...     personal/mobile ('Find me anywhere')
+255 70...     070...    personal numbering
+255 71...     071...    mobile - MIC
+255 72...     072...    for future use
+255 73...     073...    for future use
+255 74...     074...    mobile - Vodacom
+255 75...     075...    mobile - for future carrier
+255 76...     076...    mobile - for future carrier
+255 77...     077...    mobile - Zantel
+255 78...     078...    mobile - Celtel
+255 79...     079...    mobile - for future carrier
+255 8...      08...     special services
+255 9...      09...     premium, multimedia

Mobile number changes

Mobile numbers are currently based on a 3-digit area code portion (the '74x' portion of +255 74x xxxxxx) followed by 6-digit subscriber number.

On 30 June 2006 (postponed from 31 December 2005), mobile numbers changed to a '2+7' format, +255 7y zxxxxxx - y indicates the carrier, and z is a digit other than 0, 1, 8 and 9.

Carrier  Old format       New format
-------  ----------       ----------
Celtel   +255 748 xxxxxx  +255 78 zxxxxxx
Celtel   +255 749 xxxxxx  +255 78 zxxxxxx
MIC      +255 741 xxxxxx  +255 71 zxxxxxx
Vodacom  +255 744 xxxxxx  +255 75 zxxxxxx
Vodacom  +255 745 xxxxxx  +255 75 zxxxxxx
Vodacom  +255 746 xxxxxx  +255 75 zxxxxxx
Zantel   +255 747 xxxxxx  +255 77 zxxxxxx
In the above table, x could be any digit; z is a digit other than 0, 1, 8 and 9.

Short codes

Updated short code ranges:

Short code  Purpose
----------  -------
110         spare code [as of 31 October 2001]
111         Crime Stoppers
112         emergency/police/SOS
113         anti-corruption
114         fire [effective 2006]
115         ambulance [effective 2006]
17x         carrier pre-selection
017x        carrier selection
18x         future carrier pre-selection
018x        future carrier selection

31 October 2001 - special services introduction

The 8 and 9 area code ranges (08xx and 09xx domestically) will become effective for special and premium services respectively. The 8 range was formerly used for universal number and cellular services.

31 October 2000 - short code changes

Emergency code 999 ends, being replaced with 112.

Directory inquiries code 991 also ends this date, having been replaced with 118.

1 July 2000 - national area code changes

Nearly all area codes in Tanzania were changed 1 July 2000 as part of a national telecom renumbering program, including the major centre Dar Es Salaam. Geographic area codes (excluding initial 0 toll prefix digit) became uniform 2 digits, beginning with the digit 2. Mobile area codes were changed to 3-digit codes, beginning with the digit 7.

31 July 1999 - Kenya, Uganda access code changes

The national renumbering in Tanzania has effectively ended the co-ordinated numbering plan among Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Previously, area code ranges beginning with 1, 2 and 3 were assigned to Kenya; area code ranges beginning with 4 were assigned to Uganda; and area code ranges beginning with 5 were assigned to Tanzania.

As of 31 July 1999, 005 is used to dial Kenya, and 006 to dial Uganda. Conversely, 007 is expected to be implemented in Kenya and Uganda to dial into Tanzania.

30 June 1999 - 00 international prefix changed to 000

With introduction of new regional 005 and 006 codes, the former 00 international calling prefix was changed to 000.

31 October 1999

The old 8 area code range for universal (find me) service numbers was discontinued, to be replaced with new area codes in the 7 range (07xx domestically).

Sources for 1999-2001 national renumbering

TTCL - major telecom carrier

The EastAfrican (item #1)

The EastAfrican (item #2, May 2000)

announcement from Tanzania's UK representatives

Tanzania Yellow Pages

Tanzania Communication Commission announcement (via ITU, 20 June 2000).

Tanzania Communication Commission (TCC) numbering page (no longer available, after TCC became TCRA in 2003).

History

See EAPTC historical notes regarding integration of telecom service in three East African nations including Tanzania.

Prior to 1999-2001 changes, area codes were 2-4 digits, subscriber numbers 4-6 digits.

16 March 1996 - Dar Es Salaam numbers - 5 to 6 digits

An extra digit was added to Dar Es Salaam numbers (area code 51) to make them 6-digit numbers in 16 March 1996.

Other Information

Regulator: Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) (replaced Tanzania Communications Commission (TCC) on November 2003).

Major carrier: TTCL.


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