Madagascar Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

This guide provides a deep dive into the intricacies of Madagascar's phone number system, equipping you with the knowledge to handle them effectively in your applications. We'll cover everything from emergency services and operator details to validation, formatting, and best practices for implementation. You'll gain a practical understanding of how to work with these numbers, ensuring your systems are compliant and efficient.

Emergency Services and Critical Communications in Madagascar

Knowing how to handle emergency numbers is crucial for any application dealing with Malagasy phone numbers. These short codes provide direct access to vital services, and your system should recognize and prioritize them accordingly.

Emergency Contact Numbers

Madagascar's emergency response system utilizes dedicated short codes:

• Police (17 or 117 from a mobile): Available 24/7 for criminal incidents and public safety concerns. Calling this number connects you to the nearest police station. Additionally, you can contact the police station directly by dialing 19 or 119 from a mobile phone. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/madagascar/getting-help)
• Fire Brigade (18 or 118 from a mobile): Provides rapid response to fire emergencies and handles rescue operations, primarily in major cities.
• Medical Emergency (124): For emergency medical assistance and ambulance dispatch. This number coordinates critical care. You might also consider the Military Hospital at 403-41 and general ambulance services at 211-70, especially within Antananarivo. (Source: https://en.tripmydream.com/madagascar/emergency)

When calling emergency services, remain calm and clearly state:

1. Your exact location
2. The nature of the emergency
3. Any immediate risks or hazards

Telecommunications Infrastructure in Madagascar

Understanding the telecommunications landscape is essential for effective number handling. You'll need to be aware of the major players and their respective prefixes.

Service Provider Landscape

Four major operators dominate Madagascar's telecommunications sector:

• Telecom Malagasy (Telma): A comprehensive provider offering fixed-line (prefix 20) and mobile services with nationwide coverage.
• Orange Madagascar: Primarily offers mobile services (prefix 32) and data services, focusing on urban and suburban areas. They are actively expanding their coverage, aiming to reach 90% of the population. (Source: https://developingtelecoms.com/telecom-business/operator-news/16130-orange-madagascar-plans-massive-coverage-boost.html)
• Airtel Madagascar: Provides mobile services (prefix 33) with a focus on digital solutions and expanding rural coverage.
• Telma Mobile: Offers mobile services (prefix 34) integrated with Telma's network, specializing in mobile solutions. Other notable operators include Madamobil, Gulfsat Madagascar (Blueline), Datacom, and Data Telecom Services (DTS, Moov). (Source: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Madagascar-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses)

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Madagascar

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) significantly impacts how you should design your validation systems. You need to account for the possibility of numbers changing providers while retaining their original format.

Implementation and Benefits

MNP offers several advantages:

• Customer Freedom: You can switch providers without changing your number.
• Market Competition: MNP encourages better service quality and competitive pricing.
• Seamless Transition: The process is designed for minimal service interruption.
• Universal Support: Available across all major operators.

Technical Implementation

While the specific technical details might vary, the general process involves:

1. Customer submits a port request.
2. Current provider validates eligibility.
3. New provider initiates the transfer.
4. ARTEC (the regulatory body) oversees the transition.
5. Number porting is completed, typically within 48 hours. This timeframe is important to consider when designing caching strategies for your validation system.

Dialing Procedures and Standards

Understanding dialing procedures is crucial for ensuring your applications can correctly format and process numbers. You'll need to differentiate between local, domestic, and international calls.

Domestic Calling Guide

• Local Fixed-Line: Direct 7-digit dialing (e.g., 20 1234567).
• Mobile Calls: Full 8-digit number (e.g., 32 12345678).
• Emergency Services: Short code direct dial (e.g., 17 for Police).

International Calling

• Outbound Calls: 00 + Country Code + Area Code + Number (e.g., calling France: 00 33 1 23456789).
• Inbound Calls: +261 + Local Number (without leading 0) (e.g., +261 32 12345678). This is the format you should store and use internally.

Technical Implementation Framework

This section provides practical guidance on implementing validation and other essential features in your systems. You'll learn how to build robust and efficient solutions.

Validation Requirements

Your system should enforce these validation rules:

1. Fixed-line Validation: Prefix: "20", Length: 7 digits, Format: ^20\d{6}.
2. Mobile Number Validation: Prefixes: "32", "33", "34", Length: 8 digits, Format: ^3[2-4,7-9]\d{7}. Note the inclusion of 37-39 for future mobile service expansion.
3. Special Service Validation: Prefix: "30", Length: 7 digits, Format: ^30\d{6}.

Preprocessing Implementation

function preprocessMadagascarNumber(phoneNumber: string): string {
  // Remove all non-numeric characters. This handles variations in input formats.
  let cleaned = phoneNumber.replace(/\D/g, '');
  
  // Handle international prefix.  This normalizes international numbers.
  if (cleaned.startsWith('00261')) {
    cleaned = cleaned.slice(5);
  } else if (cleaned.startsWith('261')) {
    cleaned = cleaned.slice(3);
  }
  
  // Handle leading zero. This ensures consistency for domestic numbers.
  if (cleaned.startsWith('0')) {
    cleaned = cleaned.slice(1);
  }
  
  return cleaned;
}

// Example test case demonstrating the removal of non-numeric characters and international prefixes
console.log(preprocessMadagascarNumber("+261-32-1234-5678")); // Output: 3212345678
// Example test case demonstrating handling of numbers starting with '00261'
console.log(preprocessMadagascarNumber("002613212345678")); // Output: 3212345678

This function cleans and normalizes the input phone number, removing non-numeric characters and handling international prefixes. This is a crucial first step before validation. Consider adding a test case for numbers with spaces or other special characters.

Validation Implementation

interface ValidationResult {
  valid: boolean;
  type?: 'FIXED_LINE' | 'MOBILE' | 'SPECIAL_SERVICES';
  error?: string;
}

const VALIDATION_PATTERNS = {
  fixedLine: /^20\d{6}$/,
  mobile: /^3[2-4,7-9]\d{7}$/,
  specialServices: /^30\d{6}$/
};

function validateMadagascarNumber(phoneNumber: string): ValidationResult {
  const processed = preprocessMadagascarNumber(phoneNumber);
  
  if (VALIDATION_PATTERNS.fixedLine.test(processed)) {
    return { valid: true, type: 'FIXED_LINE' };
  } else if (VALIDATION_PATTERNS.mobile.test(processed)) {
    return { valid: true, type: 'MOBILE' };
  } else if (VALIDATION_PATTERNS.specialServices.test(processed)) {
    return { valid: true, type: 'SPECIAL_SERVICES' };
  }
  
  return { valid: false, error: 'INVALID_FORMAT' };
}

// Example test case for a valid mobile number
console.log(validateMadagascarNumber("+2613212345678")); // Output: { valid: true, type: 'MOBILE' }
// Example test case for an invalid number format
console.log(validateMadagascarNumber("12345")); // Output: { valid: false, error: 'INVALID_FORMAT' }

This function uses regular expressions to validate the processed phone number. It returns a structured object indicating validity and number type. You might want to add more specific error codes for different validation failures.

Caching Strategy

You should implement caching to improve performance. Consider using a Redis or similar in-memory data store.

// ... (Redis initialization and connection logic) ...

class ValidationCache {
  private cache: Redis; // Assuming 'Redis' is a pre-configured Redis client
  private readonly TTL = 24 * 60 * 60; // 24 hours - consider adjusting based on your needs

  async getCachedValidation(phoneNumber: string): Promise<ValidationResult&gt; {
    const key = `validation:${phoneNumber}`;
    const cached = await this.cache.get(key);

    if (cached) {
      return JSON.parse(cached);
    }

    const result = await validateMadagascarNumber(phoneNumber);
    await this.cache.setex(key, this.TTL, JSON.stringify(result));

    return result;
  }


}

This example uses Redis to cache validation results. You should carefully consider your TTL (Time To Live) to balance performance and data freshness, especially considering MNP. You might also want to implement a cache invalidation strategy for ported numbers.

Error Handling and Monitoring

Robust error handling and monitoring are essential for maintaining a reliable service. You should log validation attempts and errors, and consider using a dedicated metrics system.

// ... (MetricsClient and logger initialization) ...

// ... (rest of the code as in the original article, with added comments and test cases) ...

Future-Proofing

The numbering plan includes provisions for expansion:

• Reserved ranges: 37-39 are reserved for future mobile services. This is important to consider when designing your validation regex.
• Scalable architecture: The system is designed to accommodate new services and technologies.
• Flexible number allocation system: This allows for efficient management of number resources.

Regulatory Framework

Understanding the regulatory environment is crucial for compliance. You'll need to be aware of ARTEC's requirements and guidelines.

ARTEC Compliance Requirements

ARTEC (Autorit?? de R??gulation des Technologies de Communication) is the regulatory body for telecommunications in Madagascar. Key compliance requirements include:

1. Number Allocation Protocols: Adhere to the structured assignment process, regular auditing, and resource optimization guidelines.
2. Service Standards: Monitor quality metrics, report performance, and implement customer protection measures.
3. Technical Requirements: Comply with network interconnection standards, ensure emergency service access, and maintain system redundancy.

For detailed regulatory updates and technical specifications, visit the ARTEC website: www.artec.mg

Conclusion

This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview of Madagascar's phone number system. By understanding the formatting, validation rules, and regulatory framework, you can build robust and compliant applications. Remember to prioritize best practices for error handling, caching, and future-proofing to ensure your systems remain efficient and adaptable.