Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in the Philippines

Quick Reference

• Country: Philippines
• Country Code: +63
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview

This guide offers an in-depth look at the telephone numbering system in the Philippines, detailing phone number structures, dialing procedures, and telecommunications standards. It's an essential resource for developers, telecom professionals, and system administrators.

Number Structure

General Number Structure

The Philippines uses an open telephone numbering plan. Here's how phone numbers are structured:

• Country Code: +63
• National (Trunk) Prefix: 0
• Subscriber Number: Varies by type (landline, mobile, etc.)

Landline Numbers

Format: [0] [Area Code] [Subscriber Number]

• Area Codes: 1-2 digits (e.g., 2 for Metro Manila)
• Subscriber Number: 7 or 8 digits

Example: 02-8123-4567 (Metro Manila), 035-123-4567 (Dumaguete)

Mobile Numbers

Format: [0]9[Mobile Network Code][Subscriber Number]

• Mobile Network Code: 3 digits (e.g., 917 for Globe Telecom)
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits

Example: 0917-123-4567

Toll-Free Numbers

Format: 1800-[Subscriber Number]

• Subscriber Number: 7 or 9 digits

Example: 1800-123-4567

Premium Numbers

Format: 1900-[Subscriber Number]

• Subscriber Number: 7 digits

Example: 1900-123-4567

Number Formats by Type

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

Landline Numbers

^(0\d{1,2})?(\d{7,8})$

Mobile Numbers

^09\d{9}$

Toll-Free Numbers

^1800\d{7,9}$

Premium Numbers

^1900\d{7}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number]
  • Example: 0281234567
• Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + [Mobile Number]
  • Example: 09171234567
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial directly [Mobile Number]
  • Example: 09171234567

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + [Country Code] + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number]
  • Example: 0061-2-1234-5678 (to Australia)
• Incoming: Dial +63 + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number] (omit the leading 0)
  • Example: +63281234567

Recent Changes to Numbering Plan

• October 6, 2019: The NTC mandated a change for Metro Manila and neighboring areas, expanding local numbers from 7 to 8 digits. This change was implemented to accommodate the growing demand for new numbers.

Number Portability

The Philippines has implemented mobile number portability (MNP) since 2013, allowing subscribers to retain their mobile numbers when switching between service providers. This applies to both prepaid and postpaid accounts. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) oversees the MNP implementation.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

ITU-T Standards

The Philippines adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, which defines the international public telecommunication numbering plan. This standard ensures that all numbers are globally unique and can be dialed internationally.

Number Allocation and Management

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is responsible for the allocation and management of telephone numbers in the Philippines. The NTC ensures that numbering resources are efficiently used and that there is sufficient capacity to accommodate future growth.

Technical Considerations

For Developers

• Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate Philippine phone numbers in your applications.
• Number Formatting: Ensure that numbers are stored in the E.164 format for international compatibility.
• Portability Checks: If your application interacts with mobile numbers, consider implementing checks for number portability to ensure correct routing.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: These are premium numbers that are easy to remember, often used by businesses. They typically follow standard formats but may have restrictions on their allocation.
• Number Blocking: Certain numbers may be blocked for regulatory or security reasons. Ensure compliance with NTC regulations when dealing with such cases.