Understanding Phone Numbers in Cyprus

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Cyprus
• Country Code: +357
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None
• Regulatory Body: Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA)

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Overview

Cyprus has a structured telephone numbering plan that is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators. This guide provides insights into the numbering formats, dialing procedures, and technical aspects of Cypriot phone numbers.

Number Formats

General Structure

Cyprus uses a closed numbering plan, meaning all phone numbers are 8 digits long. These numbers are categorized by service type, such as geographic, mobile, toll-free, and premium.

Number Structure by Type

Type	Format	Example	Description
Geographic	2[2-6]XXXXXX	22345678	Fixed-line numbers starting with '2', followed by a six-digit subscriber number.
Mobile	9[6-7]XXXXXX	97654321	Mobile numbers starting with '9', followed by a six-digit subscriber number.
Toll-Free	800XXXXX	80012345	Toll-free numbers starting with '800', followed by a five-digit subscriber number.
Premium Rate	90[09]XXXXX	90012345	Premium rate services starting with '900' or '909', followed by a five-digit subscriber number.
Shared Cost	80[1-9]XXXXX	80112345	Shared cost services starting with '80', followed by a five-digit subscriber number.

Regular Expressions

For validating Cypriot phone numbers, use these regular expressions:

• Geographic (Fixed-line):

  ^2[2-6][0-9]{6}$
  

• Mobile:

  ^9[6-7][0-9]{6}$
  

• Toll-Free:

  ^800[0-9]{5}$
  

• Premium Rate:

  ^90[09][0-9]{5}$
  

• Shared Cost:

  ^80[1-9][0-9]{5}$
  

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Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit number directly (e.g., 22345678).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 96765432).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 97654321).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 followed by the country code and the destination number (e.g., 00 44 20 7946 0958 for the UK).
• Incoming: Dial +357 followed by the 8-digit Cypriot number (e.g., +357 22345678).

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Number Portability

Cyprus supports Mobile Number Portability (MNP), allowing users to keep their mobile numbers when switching operators. This was implemented on December 1, 2001, with the permissive dialing period ending on June 1, 2002.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Number Range
CYTA	Fixed-line	2[2-6]XXXXXX
MTN Cyprus	Mobile	96XXXXXX, 97XXXXXX
PrimeTel	Mobile	95XXXXXX

ITU-T Standards

Cyprus complies with the following ITU-T standards:

• E.164: The international public telecommunication numbering plan.
• E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbers.

Number Allocation and Management

The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (CYTA) oversees the allocation and management of telephone numbers in Cyprus, ensuring compliance with ITU-T recommendations.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Certain "golden" or "vanity" numbers may be available at a premium price.
• Number Blocking: Service providers may offer number blocking as a feature, though there are no specific regulations.

Technical Considerations

For developers and systems handling Cypriot phone numbers:

• Validation: Ensure numbers conform to the 8-digit format and match the appropriate regular expressions.
• Portability: Implement checks for number portability to manage operator switches.
• Internationalization: Support E.164 formatting for international calls.