Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in Ethiopia

Quick Reference

• Country: Ethiopia
• Country Code: +251
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

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Overview

Ethiopia's telephone numbering plan is regulated by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA). This guide offers a detailed technical overview of the structure, usage, and management of phone numbers in Ethiopia, tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators.

Number Formats

General Structure

Ethiopian phone numbers follow this structure:

• Country Code: +251
• National Significant Number (NSN): 9 digits
  • Format: X XXX XXXX
  • National Prefix: 0 (for domestic dialing)

Number Structure by Type

Type	Format	Example	Notes
Landline	0X XXX XXXX	011 123 4567	Landline numbers typically start with 01, 02, 03, etc.
Mobile	09XX XXX XXX	0911 234 567	Mobile numbers start with 09, followed by a 2-digit operator prefix
Toll-Free	0800 XXX XXX	0800 123 456	Toll-free services, typically starting with 0800
Premium Rate	0900 XXX XXX	0900 123 456	Premium rate services, typically starting with 0900
Emergency	9XX	911	Short codes for emergency services

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

Use the following regular expressions to validate Ethiopian phone numbers:

• Landline:
  ^251(1[1-9]|2[1-9]|3[1-9]|4[1-9]|5[1-9]|6[1-9])\d{7}$
  

• Mobile:
  ^2519[1-9]\d{7}$
  

• Toll-Free:
  ^251800\d{6}$
  

• Premium Rate:
  ^251900\d{6}$
  

• Emergency:
  ^9\d{2}$
  

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Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the full number, including the area code (e.g., 011 123 4567).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 0911 234 567).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly (e.g., 0911 234 567).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + [Country Code] + [National Number].
  • Example: To call the USA from Ethiopia: 00 1 202 555 0123.
• Incoming: Dial +251 + [Local Number without the leading 0].
  • Example: To call Ethiopia from abroad: +251 11 123 4567.

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Number Portability

As of the latest updates, Ethiopia has not fully implemented mobile number portability (MNP). Therefore, numbers are generally tied to the specific telecom operator that issued them.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Number Range	Notes
Ethio Telecom	091X, 092X, 093X...	The primary state-owned telecom provider

ITU-T Recommendations

Ethiopia adheres to ITU-T E.164 for international telecommunication numbering, ensuring global compatibility and standardization.

Number Allocation and Management

The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) is responsible for the allocation, management, and regulation of phone numbers in Ethiopia. The ECA ensures that numbering resources are used efficiently and that the numbering plan is kept up-to-date with technological advancements.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Certain premium or "golden" numbers may be reserved for VIP clients or services.
• Number Blocking: Ethiopia may implement number blocking for specific ranges, typically for security or regulatory reasons.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and Systems Administrators

• Normalization: Ensure that Ethiopian phone numbers are stored in E.164 format (+251XXXXXXXXX) to maintain consistency.
• Validation: Implement the provided regular expressions to validate Ethiopian phone numbers in your applications.
• Time Zone Considerations: Ethiopia operates on East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3. Adjust system timestamps accordingly when processing call data.

References

• ITU National Numbering Plans
• Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA)
• Wikipedia - List of Country Calling Codes

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This technical guide provides a comprehensive overview of Ethiopia's phone number formats, dialing rules, and related telecommunications infrastructure, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information for professionals in the field.