Understanding Phone Numbers in Mauritius

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Mauritius
• Country Code: +230
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None
• Regulatory Authority: Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA)

Overview of Mauritius Phone Number System

Mauritius follows the ITU-T Recommendation E.164 for its telephone numbering plan, ensuring global compatibility. This guide is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone requiring detailed knowledge of Mauritius's phone number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory framework.

Number Formats in Mauritius

General Number Structure

All phone numbers in Mauritius consist of a country code (+230) followed by a subscriber number, which varies by service type (landline, mobile, toll-free).

Geographic (Landline) Numbers

• Format: 2XXX XXXX
• Example: 230 2123456

Mobile Numbers

• Format: 5XXX XXXX
• Example: 230 59123456

Toll-Free Numbers

• Format: 800 XXXX
• Example: 800 1234

Premium Rate Numbers

• Format: 30X XXXX
• Example: 305 1234

Number Format Table

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

• Geographic Numbers:
  /^2\d{7}$/
  

• Mobile Numbers:
  /^5\d{7}$/
  

• Toll-Free Numbers:
  /^800\d{4}$/
  

• Premium Rate Numbers:
  /^30\d{5}$/
  

Dialing Procedures in Mauritius

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 7-digit number directly (e.g., 2123456).
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 59123456).
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 7-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 59123456).

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00, then the country code, area code, and local number.
  • Example: To call the UK number +44 20 7946 0958, dial 00 44 20 7946 0958.
• Incoming: International callers should dial +230, followed by the 7-digit local number.
  • Example: +230 2123456 for landlines, or +230 59123456 for mobiles.

Number Portability

Mauritius supports mobile number portability, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching providers, enhancing competition and consumer choice.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

• Mauritius Telecom: Landline (2), Mobile (5)
• Emtel: Mobile (5)
• My.T Mobile: Mobile (5)

ITU-T Standards Compliance

Mauritius adheres to the ITU-T Recommendation E.164, ensuring uniformity and global interoperability in its telephone numbering.

Number Allocation and Management

The ICTA manages number allocation, ensuring alignment with international standards.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

Golden Numbers

Golden numbers, valued for their patterns, are available but may incur higher costs or special allocations.

Number Blocking

Certain ranges are reserved for future use, emergency services, or special applications, managed by ICTA.

Technical Considerations for Developers

Handling Mauritius Phone Numbers

• Normalization: Store numbers in a normalized format (e.g., +230 XXXXXXXX).
• Validation: Use regex to validate numbers based on type.
• Portability: Implement logic for mobile number portability.
• Internationalization: Support both domestic and international dialing.

Example Code Snippet for Normalization

function normalizePhoneNumber(phoneNumber) {
    return phoneNumber.replace(/^\+?230|\D/g, '');
}

References

For the latest on Mauritius's telecommunications regulations, visit the ICTA official website.