Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in Gambia

Quick Reference

• Country: Gambia
• Country Code: +220
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None
• Regulatory Authority: Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA)
• ITU-T Recommendations: E.164

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Overview

This guide offers an in-depth look at Gambia's telephone numbering plan, detailing the structure of phone numbers, dialing procedures, and regulatory framework. It's an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone involved in CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) in Gambia.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Gambia's phone numbers adhere to the E.164 international standard, ensuring a maximum length of 15 digits, including the country code. The numbering plan is non-geographic, meaning area codes do not denote specific regions.

Number Structure Breakdown

Type	Format	Example	Details
Landline	[4-5]XXXXXX	4223456	7-digit numbers starting with 4 or 5.
Mobile	[7-9]XXXXXX	7223456	7-digit numbers starting with 7, 8, or 9.
Special Services	1XX or 8XX	112, 8001234	Short codes for emergency services, toll-free, and premium-rate numbers.

Regular Expressions for Validation

• Landline Numbers:

  ^[45]\d{6}$
  

• Mobile Numbers:

  ^[7-9]\d{6}$
  

• Special Services:

  ^1\d{2}$|^8\d{6}$
  

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Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 7-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (International Prefix) + <Country Code> + <National Number>.
  • Example: To call a number in the United States, dial 00 1 718 555 1234.
• Incoming: Callers from abroad should dial +220 followed by the 7-digit local number.
  • Example: +220 7223456.

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Number Portability

Currently, Gambia does not support mobile number portability (MNP). Subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching between service providers.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Number Range	Type
Africell	7XXXXXX	Mobile
QCell	9XXXXXX	Mobile
Gamtel	4XXXXXX	Landline
Comium	8XXXXXX	Mobile

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Recent Changes to the Numbering Plan

As of the last update, there have been no significant changes to Gambia's numbering plan. The current structure remains stable, with no new number ranges or prefixes introduced.

Number Allocation and Management

The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) manages the allocation and management of phone numbers in Gambia, ensuring compliance with ITU-T recommendations and accommodating future growth.

Regulatory Authority Contact

• Website: PURA Gambia
• Phone: +220 4399601

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Technical Considerations

For Developers and System Administrators

1. Validation: Ensure all phone numbers conform to the specified regular expressions to avoid errors in user input or data processing.
2. Internationalization: When handling international calls, always prepend +220 to Gambia's local numbers.
3. Emergency Numbers: Implement routing for short codes like 112 (emergency services) in your telecommunications systems.
4. No National Prefix: Gambia does not use a national prefix (e.g., '0' before the subscriber number), so ensure your systems do not expect one.

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Conclusion

Understanding Gambia's phone numbering plan is crucial for anyone working in telecommunications or related fields. This guide provides the necessary technical details, including number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory information, to ensure compliance and optimal performance in telecommunication systems.