Frequently Asked Questions
Use a regular expression that checks for the correct prefixes and digit lengths after cleaning the input. Remove spaces, non-digit characters, and the optional international/national prefix before validating against patterns like ^6[4-9]\d{6}$
for mobile numbers or ^[1-7]\d{7}$
for landlines to handle variations in user input and ensure data integrity.
The country code for Slovenia is +386. This code, following the E.164 international numbering plan, is used to dial Slovenian numbers from abroad and ensures global interoperability.
Slovenia uses the E.164 numbering plan for international compatibility. This standard ensures that Slovenian phone numbers can be correctly recognized and dialed from anywhere in the world, facilitating global communication.
Check for number portability in real-time during critical operations like billing or routing calls. Due to users potentially switching carriers while keeping their numbers, consult the AKOS database to ensure accurate routing. Cache results with an appropriate TTL to balance performance and accuracy.
Yes, the first few digits of a Slovenian landline number indicate the region. Numbers starting with 01 belong to the Ljubljana region, 02 to Maribor, 03 to Celje, 04 to Kranj, and 05 to Nova Gorica (including Koper and Postojna). This can be helpful for personalization or routing calls efficiently.
Format Slovenian mobile numbers as +386 6X XXX XXX, where X represents digits. This format adheres to the E.164 standard and ensures consistent presentation of numbers across different systems, improving readability and compatibility.
Slovenian mobile numbers always start with 6, followed by a second digit from 4 to 9, which indicates the mobile operator (A1, Telekom Slovenije, Telemach, etc.). This distinct pattern facilitates easy identification and validation of mobile numbers.
Slovenian landline numbers follow the format +386 NX XXX XXX, where N is a digit from 1 to 7 representing the region, and X represents the subscriber number. The first digits indicate regional zones, aiding in call routing and user identification.
Implement robust error handling with specific error codes and messages. This allows for efficient troubleshooting by guiding users to correct their input. Handle issues like missing country codes, portability failures, and validation errors gracefully to improve user experience.
Slovenia utilizes frequencies like 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz, and 26 GHz for its 5G rollout. These frequencies are used by all major operators (Telekom, A1, and Telemach) providing substantial 5G coverage across the country, particularly in urban areas with approximately 85% population coverage.
As of 2023, Slovenia has made significant strides in 5G deployment with coverage reaching approximately 85% of the population, mainly in urban areas. All major operators have launched 5G services, creating opportunities for developers to leverage this technology's capabilities.
Staying updated on changes in Slovenian telecommunications, such as 6G planning or number format updates, is crucial for maintaining application compatibility. By monitoring AKOS for these changes, developers can proactively adapt and ensure continued functionality and compliance.
Key considerations include real-time number portability checks via AKOS, compliance with GDPR regulations, and performance optimization. Handling number portability ensures accurate routing, while GDPR compliance is essential for data handling. Performance optimization improves the responsiveness of your application.
Slovenia Phone Numbers: Format, Validation & +386 Country Code Guide
Introduction
Build applications that interact with Slovenian users by correctly handling their phone numbers. Common challenges include validating user input across different formats (local vs. international), handling number portability between operators, implementing SMS delivery with proper operator routing, and ensuring GDPR compliance for phone number storage. This guide explores Slovenia's phone number system, providing the knowledge and tools to validate, format, and integrate these numbers into your projects.
What you'll learn: Number format validation, operator identification via MNC codes, AKOS numbering plan compliance, E.164 formatting, emergency and special number handling, number portability checks, GDPR requirements, and SMS integration best practices.
Background: Slovenia's Telecommunications Landscape
Slovenia's telecommunications infrastructure transformed dramatically since independence in 1991. The country adopted the internet early (2008 documentation shows higher than average European adoption rates) and built a robust modern network. Slovenia uses country code +386, ISO code SI (alpha-2), and Mobile Country Code (MCC) 293. Today's infrastructure includes widespread fixed-line, mobile (with significant 5G rollout), and special-purpose numbers serving over 2 million people. AKOS and the ITU National Numbering Plan (updated 18 July 2018) define the current numbering plan.
Understanding Slovenia Phone Number Format
General Number Structure: Adhering to International Standards
Slovenian phone numbers follow the E.164 international numbering plan with country code +386. This standard ensures global interoperability and simplifies integration with international telecommunications systems. All Slovenian numbers are 9 digits long including the trunk prefix (0), or 8 digits after the country code in international format. Familiarize yourself with these formats to handle both domestic and international calls seamlessly.
Emergency and Short Codes (source: AKOS Emergency Call Numbers):
Key takeaway: Always validate against both domestic and international formats to ensure compatibility with global calling patterns.
Slovenia Area Codes: Regional Fixed-Line Numbers
AKOS assigns geographic numbers based on regional zones according to the AKOS numbering plan. This structure organizes number allocation and identifies a caller's general location. Use this information to personalize user experiences or route calls efficiently.
0[1-7][2-8]XXXXXX
(9 digits including trunk prefix)+386 [1-7]XXXXXXX
(8 digits after country code)01 234 5678
(national) or+386 1 234 5678
(international)Complete Slovenia Area Code List (source: ITU National Numbering Plan):
Dialing Instructions:
234 5678
)0
+ area code + number (e.g.,01 234 5678
)+386
+ area code (without leading 0) + number (e.g.,+386 1 234 5678
)Slovenia Mobile Number Format: Operator Prefixes
Mobile numbers in Slovenia follow a distinct pattern, making them easy to identify. All mobile numbers start with 06 in national format or +386 6 in international format.
06[4-9]XXXXXX
(9 digits including trunk prefix)+386 6[4-9]XXXXXX
(8 digits after country code)064 123 456
(national) or+386 64 123 456
(international)Mobile Operator Prefix Mapping (source: ITU National Numbering Plan and Wikipedia):
Key Features:
6
(after country code/trunk prefix)How to Validate Slovenia Phone Numbers
Best Practices for Phone Number Validation
Robust validation prevents data entry errors, ensures data integrity, and improves user experience. Follow these best practices when validating Slovenian phone numbers.
Recommended Library: libphonenumber
For production applications, use Google's libphonenumber library, which provides comprehensive validation for all countries including Slovenia:
Custom Validation Functions (for lightweight implementations):
This validation function handles various input formats, including those with or without the country code, spaces, and other non-digit characters. This flexibility handles real-world scenarios where users input numbers in different ways. Test your validation logic thoroughly with various edge cases to ensure robustness.
Performance Considerations: For high-volume applications processing thousands of validations per second, custom regex validation (50-100μs per validation) outperforms libphonenumber (200-500μs per validation). However, libphonenumber provides more comprehensive validation including length checking, invalid prefix detection, and automatic formatting. Choose based on your requirements: use libphonenumber for user-facing forms (accuracy priority) and custom regex for bulk processing (performance priority).
Formatting Slovenia Phone Numbers in E.164
Consistent formatting improves readability and ensures compatibility across different systems. Format Slovenian phone numbers according to international standards whenever possible.
Storage Format vs. Display Format:
+386XXXXXXXX
) without spaces for database consistency and international compatibilityThis function handles mobile, landline, toll-free, and premium numbers, formatting them according to both national and international (E.164) standards. Consistent formatting presents phone numbers clearly and recognizably.
Error Handling: Gracefully Managing Issues
Robust error handling creates a smooth user experience. Anticipate potential issues and provide informative error messages.
This example handles validation errors gracefully with internationalization support, retry logic for network calls, and timeout handling. Specific error codes and messages guide users toward correcting their input and improve application usability.
Slovenia Mobile Network Infrastructure
Network Architecture Overview
Slovenia operates a modern telecommunications network that blends legacy systems with cutting-edge technology. The network architecture follows a hierarchical model for efficient nationwide communication:
Use this structure when troubleshooting connectivity issues or optimizing performance. SMS messages route through operator SMSC (Short Message Service Center) servers in the core network.
5G Implementation: Driving Innovation
Slovenia made significant strides in 5G deployment across all major operators. Telekom Slovenije launched 5G in 2020 with initial 32% population coverage in major cities, while A1 and Telemach followed with 5G launches in 2021. As of 2025, A1 Slovenija offers the widest 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G coverage nationwide, with all three major operators providing comprehensive 5G services in urban areas.
5G Performance Metrics (2025):
This rollout uses 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz, and 26 GHz frequency bands. In June 2024, T-2 signed a five-year national mobile roaming deal with A1 Slovenija, granting T-2 subscribers access to Slovenia's premier 5G network with download speeds peaking at 1 Gbps and upload rates up to 100 Mbps. In March 2024, Telemach Slovenia launched the 5G-ADRIA project with Telemach Croatia, DARS, and the University of Ljubljana to enhance 5G infrastructure for traffic management.
Widespread 5G availability enables applications that leverage high speed and low latency. Leverage 5G when designing applications with real-time communication or data-intensive operations.
Integration Considerations: Connecting with Slovenian Telecom Systems
Integrating with Slovenian telecom systems requires careful consideration to ensure smooth operation, regulatory compliance, and optimal performance.
Note: As of 2025, AKOS does not provide a public real-time portability API. For SMS delivery and operator routing, work with your messaging provider (Twilio, MessageBird, etc.) who maintain commercial portability databases, or implement manual lookups through the AKOS registry. Caching portability results with a TTL of 7-30 days balances accuracy and performance. For critical applications, verify portability status before each SMS send.
GDPR Requirements for Phone Number Processing:
Storage Best Practices:
Performance Recommendations:
Warning: Numbering plans can change. Subscribe to AKOS news for updates and regularly review your validation rules.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Anticipate common issues and provide solutions for quick resolution. This proactive approach significantly improves user satisfaction.
+386
or leading0
+386
prefix; reject invalid codesEXPLAIN
query; add composite indexesFrequently Asked Questions
What is the country code for Slovenia phone numbers?
The country code for Slovenia is +386. When dialing Slovenian numbers internationally, prefix the number with +386 (or 00386 from most European countries, or 011 386 from North America). For example, a mobile number 064 123 456 becomes +386 64 123 456 in international format. Slovenia also uses ISO code SI (alpha-2) and Mobile Country Code (MCC) 293 for telecommunications systems. Source: ITU National Numbering Plan.
How do I validate a Slovenian mobile number?
Validate Slovenian mobile numbers using this pattern: they must start with +386 (or 0 locally), followed by 6, then a digit from 4 to 9, and finally 6 more digits. The complete format is +386 6[4-9]XXXXXX or 06[4-9]XXXXXX locally. Use the regex pattern
/^(?:\+386|0)?6[4-9]\d{6}$/
for validation in your code. For production applications, use Google's libphonenumber library for comprehensive validation including length checking and carrier detection. Handle number portability by checking with your messaging provider or AKOS, as users can switch operators while keeping their numbers (portability active since 2006).What are the area codes for major Slovenian cities?
Slovenia's geographic numbers use area codes based on regional zones as defined by AKOS. The complete area codes are: 01 for Ljubljana region, 02 for Maribor, Ravne na Koroškem, and Murska Sobota, 03 for Celje and Trbovlje, 04 for Kranj, 05 for Nova Gorica, Koper, and Postojna, and 07 for Novo Mesto and Krško. Area code 06 is reserved for mobile networks. Geographic numbers follow the format 0[1-7][2-8]XXXXXX in national format or +386 [1-7]XXXXXXX in international format (8 digits after country code). Source: ITU National Numbering Plan.
Which mobile operators serve Slovenia?
Slovenia has four major mobile operators with the following MNC codes and prefixes (source: ITU Mobile Network Codes):
All mobile numbers start with 06 in national format (6 after country code). All operators support SMS/MMS services and number portability (active since 2006), meaning prefixes no longer reliably indicate current operator.
How do I format Slovenian phone numbers in E.164 format?
Convert Slovenian phone numbers to E.164 format by: (1) removing all non-digit characters (spaces, parentheses, hyphens), (2) if the number starts with 0 (national format), replace with +386, (3) if the number lacks country code, prepend +386. For example: "064 123 456" becomes "+38664123456" (storage format) or "+386 64 123 456" (display format), "01 234 5678" becomes "+38612345678" (storage) or "+386 1 234 5678" (display). Store all numbers in E.164 format without spaces in databases for international compatibility and consistent indexing. Use libphonenumber's
format(PNF.E164)
method for automatic conversion. Source: E.164 Standard.What is Slovenia's 5G network coverage like in 2025?
As of 2025, all major Slovenian operators provide comprehensive 5G coverage in urban areas. Telemach offers the fastest 5G download speeds at 302.5 Mbps (upload 31.8 Mbps), A1 Slovenia provides the widest nationwide coverage with speeds of 204.2 Mbps (upload 26.2 Mbps), and Telekom Slovenije delivers speeds of 108.6 Mbps (upload 22.8 Mbps). The networks utilize 700 MHz, 3.6 GHz, and 26 GHz frequency bands. T-2 subscribers access A1's 5G network through a roaming agreement with speeds up to 1 Gbps. 5G is available in all major cities including Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, Koper, and Novo Mesto, with expansion to rural areas ongoing.
What is AKOS and why is it important for phone number validation?
AKOS (Agencija za komunikacijska omrežja in storitve Republike Slovenije / Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia) is Slovenia's telecommunications regulator, established under the Electronic Communications Act (ZEKom-2). AKOS manages the national numbering plan, oversees number portability, assigns numbering blocks to operators, and maintains the official numbering space registry. Reference AKOS resources for authoritative numbering plan data and subscribe to AKOS news for updates. AKOS publishes annual analyses of numbering space allocation and depletion risk assessments. For portability checks, AKOS provides routing codes (98MN series) but does not currently offer a public API—use commercial messaging providers for real-time portability lookups.
Future Considerations: Staying Ahead of the Curve
The Slovenian telecommunications landscape constantly evolves. Stay informed about upcoming changes to keep your application compatible and current. Monitor early-stage discussions about 6G planning (expected post-2030), number format evolution as numbering blocks approach exhaustion, and AKOS API modernization. Staying current enables proactive adaptation and competitive advantage.
Resources to Monitor:
Conclusion
You now have comprehensive knowledge of Slovenian phone numbers. Follow the guidelines and best practices in this guide to confidently integrate these numbers into your applications and ensure seamless communication with Slovenian users. Prioritize data integrity, user experience, and regulatory compliance.
Quick Implementation Checklist:
+386XXXXXXXX
without spaces)Additional Resources: