Understanding Phone Numbers in Russia

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Russia
• Country Code: +7
• International Prefix: 810
• National Prefix: 8

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Overview of Russian Phone Number Formats

This comprehensive guide offers detailed insights into the phone number formats and dialing procedures in Russia. It's an essential resource for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone interested in understanding Russia's telephone numbering system.

Number Formats in Russia

General Number Structure

Russian phone numbers are composed of the following elements:

• Country Code: +7
• Area/City Code: 3 to 4 digits, varying by region
• Subscriber Number: 5 to 7 digits

Geographic Numbers

Geographic numbers are organized by region or city, typically featuring a 3-digit area code followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.

Format: +7 (XXX) XXX-XX-XX
Examples:

• +7 495 123-45-67 (Moscow)
• +7 812 234-56-78 (St. Petersburg)

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in Russia generally start with 9 and include a 10-digit sequence, incorporating the mobile operator code.

Format: +7 9XX XXX-XX-XX
Examples:

• +7 912 345-67-89
• +7 926 123-45-67

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers often begin with 800 or 809, providing free calling options for users, usually associated with businesses.

Format: 8 800 XXX-XX-XX
Examples:

• 8 800 555-35-35
• 8 800 123-45-67

Premium Rate Numbers

Premium rate numbers, starting with 809 or 803, are used for services that incur higher charges.

Format: 8 809 XXX-XX-XX
Examples:

• 8 809 123-45-67
• 8 803 123-45-67

Special Service Numbers

Special service numbers, like emergency services, utilize short codes.

Examples:

• Emergency Services: 112
• Fire Department: 101
• Police: 102

Number Format Table

Type	Format	Example(s)
Geographic	+7 (XXX) XXX-XX-XX	+7 495 123-45-67
Mobile	+7 9XX XXX-XX-XX	+7 912 345-67-89
Toll-Free	8 800 XXX-XX-XX	8 800 555-35-35
Premium Rate	8 809 XXX-XX-XX	8 809 123-45-67
Special Services	(Short Codes)	112 (Emergency)

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

To validate Russian phone numbers, use these regular expressions:

• Geographic Numbers:

  ^\+7\s?(\d{3})\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$
  

• Mobile Numbers:

  ^\+7\s?9\d{2}\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$
  

• Toll-Free Numbers:

  ^8\s?800\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$
  

• Premium Rate Numbers:

  ^8\s?809\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$
  

Dialing Rules in Russia

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 8, followed by the area code and the subscriber number.
  Example: 8 495 123-45-67 (Moscow)

• Landline to Mobile: Dial 8, followed by the mobile operator code and the subscriber number.
  Example: 8 912 345-67-89

• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 10-digit mobile number directly.
  Example: 912 345-67-89

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 8, wait for the tone, then dial 10 followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number.
  Example: 8 10 1 212 555-0123 (to the USA)

• Incoming: Callers from abroad should dial +7 followed by the area code and subscriber number.
  Example: +7 495 123-45-67 (to Moscow)

Number Portability

Russia supports number portability for both mobile and fixed-line services, allowing users to retain their numbers when switching operators. This process is overseen by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Mobile Prefixes	Notes
MTS	910-919, 980-989	Major mobile operator
Beeline	900-909, 960-969	Major mobile operator
Megafon	920-929, 930-939	Major mobile operator
Tele2	950-959, 970-979	Mobile and fixed-line services

ITU-T Recommendations

Russia adheres to ITU-T Recommendations E.123 and E.164 for international telecommunication numbering, with the country code +7 structured according to these standards.

Number Allocation and Management

The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media is responsible for managing and allocating telephone numbers in Russia, ensuring compliance with international standards.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Premium number combinations with repeating digits are often sold at higher prices.
• Number Blocking: Guidelines exist for blocking numbers, particularly for telemarketing and spam prevention.

Technical Considerations

For Developers

• Validation: Implement the provided regular expressions to validate phone numbers in your applications.
• Formatting: Ensure phone numbers adhere to the E.164 standard for international compatibility.
• Portability: Support number portability features as it's a common requirement in Russia.

For Systems Administrators

• Routing: Configure telecommunication systems to correctly route calls based on the latest Russian numbering plan.
• Emergency Services: Ensure emergency numbers are accessible regardless of the dialing format.