Phone Numbers in Western Sahara

Quick Reference

• Country: Western Sahara
• Country Code: +212
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

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Overview

This comprehensive guide offers a detailed look at the telephone numbering plan in Western Sahara. It covers number structures, dialing procedures, and regulatory insights, making it an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone engaging with Western Sahara's telecommunications network.

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Number Formats

Western Sahara uses a numbering plan similar to Morocco's due to their shared country code (+212). Below is a breakdown of the number types used in the region.

General Number Structure

• Format: [5-8]X{8}
• Explanation: Numbers typically start with digits 5 through 8, followed by 8 digits.

Landline Numbers

• Format: 528[89]X{5}
• Explanation: Landline numbers start with 528, followed by 8 or 9, and then 5 digits.
• Examples:
  • 528898935
  • 528898975

Mobile Numbers

• Format:
  6[0-79]X{7} | 68[0-247-9]X{7} | 7[0167]X{7} | 72[0-4]X{7} | 75[01]X{7} | 78[0-3]X{7}
  

• Explanation: Mobile numbers begin with 6 or 7, followed by specific digit ranges and 7 digits.
• Examples:
  • 600793800
  • 679079087
  • 702004579
  • 750180036

Toll-Free Numbers

• Format: 80[0-7]X{6}
• Explanation: Toll-free numbers start with 80, followed by digits 0 through 7, and then 6 digits.
• Examples:
  • 8000776
  • 8000746

Premium Rate Numbers

• Format: 89X{7}
• Explanation: Premium rate numbers start with 89 and are followed by 7 digits.
• Examples:
  • 8957000000
  • 8977000000

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Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 0 followed by the full local number (e.g., 0528898935).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 followed by the mobile number (e.g., 0600793800).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 600793800).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00, the country code, then the national number (e.g., 00 1 2025550125 for the USA).
• Incoming: Dial +212 followed by the local number without the leading 0 (e.g., +212528898935).

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Number Portability

Currently, mobile number portability (MNP) is unavailable in Western Sahara, meaning subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching carriers.

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Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Major Telecom Operators

Western Sahara's telecom is influenced by Moroccan infrastructure. Key operators include:

• Maroc Telecom: Prefix 528 for fixed-line and 6 or 7 for mobile.
• Orange Maroc: Mobile services with numbers starting with 6 or 7.
• Inwi: Mobile operator with numbers beginning with 6 or 7.

Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Number Prefixes
Maroc Telecom	Landline	5288, 5289
Maroc Telecom	Mobile	6[0-79]
Orange Maroc	Mobile	6[0-79], 7[0167]
Inwi	Mobile	7[0167], 75[01]

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ITU-T Standards

Western Sahara follows ITU-T Recommendations E.123 and E.164:

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

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Number Allocation and Management

Regulatory Authority

The Moroccan telecommunications regulatory authority, ANRT (Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Télécommunications), manages the numbering plan. For updates, visit ANRT's official website.

Number Allocation

Numbers are allocated based on service type and operator, managed by ANRT to ensure efficient use of resources.

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Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

Golden Numbers

Golden numbers, easy-to-remember sequences, may be available for purchase at a premium, often used for business branding.

Number Blocking

Certain premium service number ranges might be blocked by default to prevent charges.

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Technical Considerations

For Developers

When working with Western Sahara's phone numbers, consider:

• Validation: Use regex patterns for number validation.
• Portability: Do not assume number portability across operators.
• Dialing Logic: Implement logic for domestic and international formats.

Regular Expressions

• Landline: ^528[89]\d{5}$
• Mobile: ^6[0-79]\d{7}$|^68[0-247-9]\d{7}$|^7[0167]\d{7}$|^72[0-4]\d{7}$|^75[01]\d{7}$|^78[0-3]\d{7}$
• Toll-Free: ^80[0-7]\d{6}$
• Premium Rate: ^89\d{7}$

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