Georgia Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

This guide provides a detailed overview of Georgia's phone numbering system, designed for developers, telecom professionals, and system administrators. It covers number formats, validation, best practices, and advanced implementation considerations.

Quick Reference

• Country: Georgia ????????
• Country Code: +995
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0
• ITU-T Standard: E.164
• Regulatory Authority: Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC)

Numbering Plan Overview

Georgia uses a closed numbering plan, adhering to the ITU-T E.164 standard. All numbers are 9 digits long, including the area/service code. This standardized format was implemented on June 4, 2011, simplifying previous variations and improving compatibility. The reform included updating area codes, standardizing mobile prefixes, and padding some geographic numbers to ensure a uniform 9-digit length.

Number Categories and Formats

Georgian phone numbers fall into several categories:

1. Geographic (Landline) Numbers

• Format: 0[3-5][1-9] XXXXXX (Note: Not all combinations within this range are valid area codes. See the area code table below for details.)
• Example: 032 234 5678 (Tbilisi)

Geographic numbers start with 0 followed by a two or three-digit area code. The area code's first digit (3 or 4) indicates the region: 3 for eastern Georgia and 4 for western Georgia.

Major City Area Codes:

• Tbilisi: 032
• Kutaisi: 043
• Batumi: 042
• Rustavi: 0341

A more comprehensive list of area codes can be found in the Additional Context.

2. Mobile Numbers

• Format: 5XX XXX XXX
• Example: 595 123 456

Mobile numbers always begin with 5 followed by eight more digits. While the second and third digits historically indicated the operator (e.g., 595 for MagtiCom), number portability makes this unreliable.

3. Special Purpose Numbers

• Toll-Free: 800 XXX XXX (Used for customer service, government helplines)
• Premium Rate: 900 XXX XXX (Used for pay-per-call services)
• Emergency/Special Services: 1XX (e.g., 112 for general emergency)

4. Reserved Numbers

• Prefixes: 2XX, 6XX (Currently reserved for future use)

Implementation Guide

1. Number Validation

Regular expressions provide a robust way to validate Georgian phone numbers:

// Mobile
const mobileRegex = /^5\d{8}$/;

// Geographic (More precise validation requires a lookup table of valid area codes)
const landlineRegex = /^0[3-5][1-9]\d{6,7}$/; // Accommodates 2 or 3 digit area codes

// Toll-Free
const tollFreeRegex = /^800\d{6}$/;

// Premium Rate
const premiumRegex = /^900\d{6}$/;

Important Note: The landlineRegex provided here is a general match. For precise validation, you should cross-check the area code against a list of valid Georgian area codes.

2. Number Formatting

Consistent formatting improves user experience. Here's an example function:

function formatGeorgianNumber(number) {
  const cleaned = number.replace(/\D/g, ''); // Remove non-digits

  if (cleaned.startsWith('5')) {
    return `+995 ${cleaned.slice(0, 3)} ${cleaned.slice(3, 6)} ${cleaned.slice(6)}`; // Mobile
  } else if (cleaned.startsWith('0')) {
    // Landline (formatting depends on area code length - requires area code lookup)
    const areaCodeLength = getAreaCodeLength(cleaned); // Function to determine area code length (not shown here, but crucial)
    if (areaCodeLength === 2) {
        return `+995 ${cleaned.slice(1, 3)} ${cleaned.slice(3)}`;
    } else if (areaCodeLength === 3) {
        return `+995 ${cleaned.slice(1, 4)} ${cleaned.slice(4)}`;
    } else {
        return null; // Invalid area code length
    }
  } else if (cleaned.startsWith('800') || cleaned.startsWith('900')) {
    return `+995 ${cleaned.slice(0, 3)} ${cleaned.slice(3, 6)} ${cleaned.slice(6)}`; // Special numbers
  }

  return null; // Invalid format
}

3. Operator Identification

While prefixes like 595 were initially tied to specific operators, number portability has made this unreliable. For accurate operator identification, use a real-time lookup service. The GNCC may offer such a service, or you can use third-party providers.

Best Practices

• Storage: Store numbers in E.164 format (+995XXXXXXXX) without spaces or formatting.
• Display: Use local format (0XX XXXXXX) for domestic users and international format (+995 XX XXXXXXX) for international contexts.
• Validation: Always validate before processing, considering length, prefixes, and potentially area code validity.
• Portability: Do not rely on prefixes for operator identification. Use a lookup service.

Advanced Implementation

Error Handling

Implement custom error classes for specific issues:

class GeorgianNumberError extends Error {
  constructor(message, numberType, attemptedValue) {
    super(message);
    this.name = 'GeorgianNumberError';
    this.numberType = numberType; // e.g., 'mobile', 'landline', 'portability'
    this.attemptedValue = attemptedValue;
  }
}

Number Portability Integration

Integrate with a portability API (if available) for real-time operator lookup:

async function getOperator(phoneNumber) {
  try {
    const response = await fetch(`https://example-portability-api.com/${phoneNumber}`); // Replace with actual API endpoint
    // ... handle response and return operator ...
  } catch (error) {
    throw new GeorgianNumberError('Portability lookup failed', 'portability', phoneNumber);
  }
}

Performance Optimization

• Caching: Cache operator and portability data to reduce API calls. Implement appropriate TTLs (Time-To-Live) based on data volatility.
• Batch Processing: Validate or process numbers in batches to improve efficiency when dealing with large volumes.

Regulatory Compliance

Adhere to GNCC regulations:

• Store numbers in E.164.
• Implement robust error handling.
• Maintain audit logs for number modifications.
• Stay updated on current number plans and regulations via the GNCC website.

Additional Context

The provided additional context offers valuable details on Georgian telecommunications, including:

• Area Codes: A more extensive list of area codes is available in the Wikipedia excerpt. Use this for comprehensive landline validation.
• Mobile Operators: Information on mobile operators and their historical prefixes is provided. Remember that number portability makes prefix-based identification unreliable.
• Market Dynamics: The additional context includes information on market share, competition, and regulatory changes. This is useful for understanding the broader telecommunications landscape in Georgia.
• Number Portability: Details on the implementation and implications of number portability are crucial for developers.

By understanding these details and following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can effectively integrate Georgian phone numbers into your applications and systems.