Understanding Phone Numbers in Uruguay

Quick Reference Guide

• Country: Uruguay
• Country Code: +598
• International Prefix: 00 or 013-019 (carrier-dependent)
• National Prefix: 0
• Number Length: 8 digits (fixed and mobile)

Overview

This comprehensive guide delves into Uruguay's telephone numbering plan, covering number formats, dialing procedures, and telecommunications regulations. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators who require precise information on managing Uruguay's phone numbers.

Number Formats

Uruguay's telephone numbers comply with the ITU-T E.164 international standard. The national numbering plan is overseen by the Uruguayan Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining.

General Number Structure

Uruguay's phone numbers are 8 digits long for both fixed-line and mobile numbers. Non-geographic services typically use 7-digit numbers. The country code for Uruguay is +598.

Geographic Numbers (Fixed-Line)

Fixed-line numbers are 8 digits, with the first digit indicating the region.

Region	Format	Example
Montevideo	2XXXXXXX	22123456
Other Areas	[4-7]XXXXXXX	43123456

Regular Expression: ^(2|[4-7])\d{7}$

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers also consist of 8 digits, starting with '9'.

Type	Format	Example
Mobile	9[1-9]XXXXXX	99123456

Regular Expression: ^9[1-9]\d{6}$

Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free numbers start with '0800' or '0805', followed by 4 digits.

Type	Format	Example
Toll-Free	0800XXXX, 0805XXXX	08001234

Regular Expression: ^080[05]\d{4}$

Premium Rate Numbers

Premium rate numbers begin with '0900' to '0908', followed by 4 digits.

Type	Format	Example
Premium	090[0-8]XXXX	09001234

Regular Expression: ^090[0-8]\d{4}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial the international prefix (00 or 013-019 based on carrier), followed by the country code, and then the national number.
• Incoming: From abroad, dial +598 followed by the 8-digit national number (omit the leading 0).

Number Portability

Uruguay supports number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their phone numbers when switching providers. This applies to both mobile and fixed-line numbers.

Major Telecom Operators

Uruguay's primary telecom operator is ANTEL (Administración Nacional de Telecomunicaciones). Although specific number ranges for other operators are not publicly detailed, ANTEL manages the majority of the national numbering plan.

Compliance with ITU-T Standards

Uruguay's telephone numbering system adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard, which defines the structure and length of telephone numbers globally.

Number Allocation and Management

The Uruguayan Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining is responsible for the allocation and management of phone numbers in Uruguay, ensuring compliance with international standards.

Technical Considerations

For developers and systems administrators working with Uruguay's phone numbers, consider the following:

1. Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to validate phone numbers according to their type (e.g., geographic, mobile, toll-free).
2. Formatting: Ensure that international formats include the +598 country code and omit the leading 0.
3. Portability: Implement mechanisms to account for number portability, particularly when interfacing with telecom APIs.
4. Compliance: Adhere to ITU-T E.164 standards when storing or transmitting phone numbers.