Phone Numbers in Libya: A Comprehensive Guide
Quick Reference
- Country: Libya
- Country Code: +218
- International Prefix: 00
- National Prefix: 0
Overview
Explore Libya's telephone numbering plan with this detailed guide, tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators. Understand the structure, formats, and dialing procedures essential for efficient communication.
Number Formats
Libya uses a closed numbering plan with fixed-length numbers. Here's a breakdown of the phone number structure:
General Number Structure
- Country Code: +218
- National Significant Number (NSN): 8 to 9 digits
- Format:
[2-9]X{7,8}
(varies by service type)
Landline Numbers
- Format:
0X XX XX XX XX
- Length: 8 digits (excluding the national prefix)
- Area Codes:
- 2: Tripoli and surrounding regions
- 3: Benghazi and eastern regions
- 4: Sabha and southern regions
- 5: Misrata and central regions
- 6: Zawiya and western regions
- 7: Sirte and central coastal regions
- 8: Kufra and southeastern regions
Regular Expression:
^0[2-8][0-9]{7}$
Examples:
0212345678
(Tripoli)0312345678
(Benghazi)
Mobile Numbers
- Format:
09X XXX XXXX
- Length: 9 digits (excluding the national prefix)
- Prefixes:
- 91, 92, 94, 95, 96: Assigned to different mobile operators
Regular Expression:
^09[1-6][0-9]{7}$
Examples:
0912345678
0923456789
Special Services
- Emergency Numbers: 3 digits
- Toll-Free Numbers: Not well-defined in public sources
- Premium Rate Numbers: Not publicly documented
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
- Landline to Landline: Dial the full 8-digit number, including the area code.
- Landline to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number, including the prefix.
- Mobile to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number.
Example:
- From a landline in Tripoli (021) to a mobile:
0912345678
- From a mobile in Benghazi (031) to another mobile:
0923456789
International Calls
- Outgoing Calls: Dial
00
+<Country Code>
+<National Number>
. - Incoming Calls: Dial
+218
+<Libyan National Number>
.
Example:
- To call the United States from Libya:
00 1 5551234567
- To call Libya from the United States:
+218 21 2345678
Number Portability
Currently, Libya does not support mobile number portability (MNP), meaning subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching providers.
Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Operator | Mobile Prefixes | Landline Area Codes |
---|---|---|
Libyana | 091, 092 | 021, 031, 041, etc. |
Almadar | 094, 095 | 051, 061, 071, etc. |
LPTIC | 096 | 081, 091, 101, etc. |
Number Allocation and Management
The General Post and Telecommunications Company (GPTC), under the Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Company (LPTIC), manages phone numbers in Libya, ensuring compliance with ITU-T E.164 standards.
Technical Considerations
For Developers
- Validation: Use the provided regular expressions for phone number validation.
- Formatting: Ensure numbers are formatted correctly, especially for international contexts.
- Number Parsing: Implement logic for parsing and formatting numbers based on domestic or international use.
Special Cases
- Golden Numbers: No publicly available information on golden numbers.
- Number Blocking: No specific information on number blocking or restrictions.
For the latest telecommunications regulations in Libya, visit the GPTC Official Website.
References
- ITU-T Recommendation E.164: ITU-T E.164
- General Post and Telecommunications Company (GPTC): GPTC Official Website