Comprehensive Guide to Phone Numbers in Serbia

Quick Reference

• Country: Serbia
• Country Code: +381
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

Overview

This guide offers a detailed examination of Serbia's telephone numbering plan, covering phone number structures, dialing procedures, and regulatory insights. It serves as a crucial resource for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators handling Serbian phone numbers.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Serbian phone numbers are structured based on the service type, such as landline, mobile, or toll-free. Key components include:

• Country Code: +381
• Area/City Codes: Vary by region (e.g., 11 for Belgrade)
• Subscriber Number Length: Typically 6 to 9 digits
• Prefixes: Specific prefixes for mobile, toll-free, and premium-rate numbers.

Number Format Table

Type	Format	Examples
Geographic (Landline)	0AA X{6,7} or 0AAA X{5,6}	011 2345678, 021 345678
Mobile	06X X{6,7}	064 1234567, 069 12345678
Toll-Free	0800 X{3,9}	0800 123456, 0800 7891234
Premium Rate	090X X{4,7}	0901 2345678, 0906 1234
Emergency	1XX	192 (Police), 194 (Ambulance)

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

• Geographic (Landline):
  ^0[1-9][0-9]{1,2}\s?[0-9]{5,7}$
  

• Mobile:
  ^06[0-9]\s?[0-9]{6,7}$
  

• Toll-Free:
  ^0800\s?[0-9]{3,9}$
  

• Premium Rate:
  ^090[0-9]\s?[0-9]{4,7}$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the area code (omit the leading 0) and the subscriber number.
  • Example: 021 345678
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile prefix (06X) followed by the subscriber number.
  • Example: 064 1234567
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile prefix (06X) followed by the subscriber number.
  • Example: 069 12345678

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial the international prefix (00), the country code, and the subscriber number.
  • Example: 00 1 234 567 8901 (calling the USA)
• Incoming: The caller should dial +381, followed by the area code (without the leading 0) and the subscriber number.
  • Example: +381 11 2345678

Number Portability

• Mobile Number Portability: Available since 2011, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching operators.
• Fixed-Line Number Portability: Enables users to switch providers without changing numbers.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Mobile Prefixes	Landline Area Codes
Telekom Srbija	064, 065, 066	11 (Belgrade), 21 (Novi Sad)
Telenor	060, 061, 062	N/A
A1 Serbia	063, 069	N/A

ITU-T Standards

Serbia adheres to ITU-T Recommendation E.164, ensuring global interoperability and efficient call routing.

Number Allocation and Management

The Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL) manages phone numbers in Serbia, ensuring efficient use and overseeing number portability.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Premium numbers are available, subject to special allocation rules and fees.
• Number Blocking: Certain ranges may be blocked for security or regulatory reasons.

Technical Considerations

For developers and systems dealing with Serbian phone numbers:

1. Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate numbers.
2. Formatting: Ensure correct formatting for both domestic and international use.
3. Portability: Implement logic to handle number portability, especially for mobile numbers.
4. Compliance: Adhere to ITU-T E.164 standards for international calls.