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|bg| Bulgaria +359

Number Format

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

Area code information

2014 - numbering plan update

Regulator CRC issued a National Numbering Plan as of 2014

+359 430 xxxxx mobile range carrier is now called M2M.

+359 437 through +359 439 is now designated for various mobile uses.

+359 99x xxxxxx is now listed for general mobile assignment.

10 January 2011 - closed dialling plan

Bulgaria adopted closed dialling, where trunk prefix '0', area code and subscriber number are combined for all domestic calls. Regular subscriber numbers totalled from 7 to 9 digits, excluding trunk prefixes or country code.

. = indicates optional digit

Number format     Place/service
=============     =============
+359 2 xxxxxxx    Sofia
+359 30 xxxxx.    Smolyan and region, Plovdiv
+359 31 xxxxx.    Plovdiv region
+359 32 xxxxxx    Plovdiv (city)
+359 33 xxxxx.    Plovdiv region
+359 34 xxxxxx    Pazardzhik (city)
+359 35 xxxxxx    Pazardzhik region
+359 36 xxxxx.    Kardzhali and region, Haskovo region
+359 37 xxxxx.    Haskovo region
+359 38 xxxxxx    Haskovo (city)
+359 39 xxxxx.    Haskovo region
+359 40           (future use)
+359 41 xxxxx.    Stara Zagora region
+359 42 xxxxxx    Stara Zagora (city)
+359 430 xxxxx    mobile (carrier TETRA)
+359 431 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 432 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 433 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 434 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 435 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 436 xxxxx    Stara Zagora region
+359 437 xxxxx    mobile (carrier TETRA)
+359 438 xxxxx    mobile (carrier TETRA)
+359 439 xxxxx    mobile (carrier TETRA)
+359 44 xxxxxx    Silven (city)
+359 45 xxxxx.    Silven region
+359 46 xxxxxx    Yambol (city)
+359 47 xxxxx.    Haskovo region, Yambol region
+359 48           (future use)
+359 49           (future use)
+359 50           (future use)
+359 51 xxxxx.    Varna region
+359 52 xxxxxx    Varna (city)
+359 53 xxxxx.    Shumen region
+359 54 xxxxxx    Shumen (city)
+359 55 xxxxx.    Burgas region
+359 56 xxxxxx    Burgas (city)
+359 57 xxxxx.    Dobrich region
+359 58 xxxxxx    Dobrich (city)
+359 59 xxxxx.    Burgas region
+359 60 xxxxx.    Targovishte and region
+359 61 xxxxx.    Veliko Tarnovo region
+359 62 xxxxxx    Veliko Tarnovo (city)
+359 63 xxxxx.    Pleven region, Veliko Tarnovo region
+359 64 xxxxxx    Pleven (city)
+359 65 xxxxx.    Pleven region
+359 66 xxxxxx    Gabrovo (city)
+359 66 xxxxx.    Gabrovo region, Lovech region
+359 68 xxxxxx    Lovech (city)
+359 69 xxxxx.    Lovech region
+359 700 xxxxx    personal numbering
+359 70x xxxx.    Kyustendil region (except +359 700)
+359 71 xxxxx.    Sofia region
+359 72 xxxxx.    Sofia region
+359 73 xxxxxx    Blagoevgrad (city)
+359 74 xxxxx.    Blagoevgrad region
+359 75 xxxxx.    Blagoevgrad region, Sofia region
+359 76 xxxxxx    Pernik (city)
+359 77 xxxxx.    Pernik region
+359 78 xxxxxx    Kyustendil (city)
+359 79 xxxxxx    Kyustendil region
+359 800 xxxxx    freephone
+359 80x xxxxx    (expansion of freephone, beyond +359 800)
+359 81 xxxxx.    Ruse region
+359 82 xxxxxx    Ruse (city)
+359 83           (future use)
+359 84 xxxxxx    Razgrad and region
+359 85           (future use)
+359 86 xxxxxx    Silistra and region
+359 87 xxxxxxx   mobile
+359 88 xxxxxxx   mobile
+359 89 xxxxxxx   mobile
+359 90 xxxxxx    premium numbers
+359 91 xxxxx.    Vratsa region
+359 92 xxxxxx    Vratsa (city)
+359 93 xxxxx.    Vidin region
+359 94 xxxxxx    Vidin (city)
+359 95 xxxxx.    Montana region
+359 96 xxxxxx    Montana (city)
+359 97 xxxxx.    Montana region, Vratsa region
+359 980 xxxxxx   MVNO
+359 981 xxxxxx   MVNO
+359 982 xxxxxx   MVNO
+359 983 xxxxxx   MVNO
+359 984 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 985 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 986 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 987 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 988 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 989 xxxxxx   mobile
+359 99x xxxxxx   broadband/wireless services (BWA, FWA)
Source: Communications Regulation Commission announcement (20 April 2011, via ITU)

(with news courtesy Sergiu Rosenzweig)

Pre-2011: general Information

There are 7 to 9 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 were "temporary", presumably now phased out of service.

The general format of Bulgaria's numbering plan is available in a document from CRC (telecom regulator) (2000-2003, archived).

Some temporary prefixes existed for analog switching exchanges:

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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