Mozambique Phone Numbers: Formats and Dialing Rules

Quick Reference

• Country: Mozambique
• Country Code: +258
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None

Overview

Mozambique's telephone numbering plan is regulated by the Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique (INCM). This guide offers comprehensive insights into the phone number structures in Mozambique, covering geographic, mobile, and special service numbers. It also includes dialing procedures, recent updates, and technical considerations for developers and telecom professionals.

Number Formats

General Structure

Mozambique's phone numbers are organized as follows:

• Country Code: +258
• Area/City Code: 1-2 digits (for landlines)
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits (for both landlines and mobile numbers)

Geographic (Landline) Numbers

Landline numbers in Mozambique are typically 9 digits long, including the area code.

• Area Codes:
  • 21: Maputo
  • 23: Beira
  • 24: Nampula
  • 26: Tete
  • 27: Inhambane
  • 29: Xai-Xai

Regex Pattern:

^2[1-8]\d{7}$

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in Mozambique are 9 digits long and begin with '8', followed by a 2-digit operator prefix and a 7-digit subscriber number.

• Operator Prefixes:
  • 82: Vodacom
  • 84: Movitel
  • 86: Tmcel

Regex Pattern:

^8[2-79]\d{7}$

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers in Mozambique are 9 digits long and start with '800'.

Regex Pattern:

^800\d{6}$

Special Services

Special service numbers typically start with '1' and vary in length.

Regex Pattern (Emergency):

^1\d{2}$

Regex Pattern (Premium Rate):

^90\d{6}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 9-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 9-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 9-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number.
• Incoming: Dial +258 followed by the 9-digit local number.

Recent Changes to the Numbering Plan

Currently, there have been no significant changes to Mozambique's telephone numbering plan. Updates will be published by the INCM.

Number Portability

Mozambique does not support mobile number portability. Subscribers must change their number when switching between mobile operators.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

ITU Standards

Mozambique's numbering plan adheres to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, standardizing international public telecommunication numbering.

Number Allocation and Management

The INCM is responsible for the allocation and management of phone numbers in Mozambique, ensuring consistency with international standards.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Mozambique does not officially recognize "golden numbers" (highly desirable or memorable phone numbers).
• Number Blocking: No specific restrictions on number blocking exist, though individual operators may offer blocking services.

Technical Considerations for Developers

When developing systems that interact with Mozambique's phone numbers, consider the following:

• Validation: Use the provided regex patterns to validate phone numbers accurately.
• Normalization: Ensure numbers are stored in E.164 format (+258XXXXXXXXX) to facilitate international interoperability.
• Formatting: Display numbers in a user-friendly format (e.g., +258 21 3456789 for landlines, +258 82 1234567 for mobile).

For the most up-to-date information on telecommunications regulations in Mozambique, please consult the official website of the Instituto Nacional das Comunicações de Moçambique (INCM).