World Telephone Numbering Guide

Updated 22 December 2004

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Bulgaria

+359

Number Format

Area Code:            1-5 digits
Subscriber Number:    3-7 digits
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 00

Area code information

General Information

There is a maximum of 8 digits in the combined area code and subscriber number (exclusive of country code or prefixes).

Regulator CRC document indicates that 4- or 5-digit area codes are "temporary", presumably being phased out of service in due course.

The general format of Bulgaria's numbering plan is available in a document from CRC (telecom regulator).

Some temporary prefixes exist for analog switching exchanges:

9: within nodal networks
90: long-distance dialling through a nodal exchange
99: within trunk networks
900: international dialling through a nodal exchange

June 2004 - closure of 179 pager code

There is a report that +359 179 pager code will be discontinued at an unknown date.

(courtesy Radoslav Markov)

2 May 2004 - GSM 2 (Globul/Cosmo) mobile renumbering

GSM 2 numbers (Globul/Cosmo) change effective 2 May 2004. This is a consolidation of the previous +359 98 and +359 99 area codes under +359 89. Subscriber numbers in this case change from 6 to 7 digits, prepended by '8' or '9' as follows:

Old number      New number
==========      ==========
+359 98 xxxxxx  +359 89 8xxxxxx
+359 99 xxxxxx  +359 89 9xxxxxx

GSM 1 (Mobiltel/M-Tel) changed its numbering in July 2003. But there is no indication when or if Mobikom (NMT-450, +359 48) is changing its numbering.

Sources: Globul news item (in Bulgarian).

Globul english pages.

(from information courtesy Alexander Bozhilov)

20 July 2003 - consolidation of GSM 1 network area codes

Prior to 20 July 2003, mobile GSM 1 (Mobitel/M-Tel) network codes were +359 87, +359 88 and +359 89 with 6-digit subscriber numbers.

These were changed on 20 July 2003 to +359 88 area code with 7-digit subscriber numbers. Under international format, '8' was prepended to the area code and subscriber number. Within Bulgaria, the last digit of the old area code was prepended to the old subscriber number, to form the new +359 88 mobile number. Migration detail was as follows:

Old format      New format
==========      ==========
+359 87 xxxxxx  +359 88 7xxxxxx
+359 88 xxxxxx  +359 88 8xxxxxx
+359 89 xxxxxx  +359 88 9xxxxxx

A Bulgarian route bulletin indicated that +359 88 0xxxxxx and +359 88 1xxxxxx ranges would also be valid for GSM 1 / Mobitel / M-Tel, presumably being new subscriber number ranges.

Attempts to dial using the old format GSM 1 numbers resulted in a recorded message until 1 January 2004. At that time, +359 87 and +359 89 area codes were released for reassignment.

Mobile NMT Network numbers are in +359 48 xxxxxx

Mobile GSM 2 network numbers remained in +359 98 xxxxxx and +359 99 xxxxxx until subsequent numbering changes in 2004.

Paging numbers are in +359 17x (operator-handled) or +359 17xxxx (automatic)

Reference: CRC announcement of 26 June 2003 (via ITU).

Other Information

See Bulgarian route bulletin or from general information of carrier BTC.

Telecom regulator is CRC (formerly STC).

(Some links courtesy Ashleigh Potter).

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