Frequently Asked Questions
The country code for Martinique is +596. This code is essential for making international calls to Martinique and distinguishes Martinique numbers from other countries.
Martinique phone numbers use a 10-digit system, including the +596 country code. Landlines are formatted as +596 [3-7]XXXXXXX, and mobiles as +596 696 [0-46-9]XXXXXX. For local calls within Martinique, replace +596 with 0.
Use the regular expression /^596[3-7]\d{7}$/ to validate Martinique landlines. This expression checks for the correct country code (596) followed by an area code (3-7) and seven digits.
The area code for mobile phones in Martinique is 696. This code follows the country code (+596) and precedes the subscriber's unique number.
Martinique adheres to the French numbering plan because it is a French overseas territory. This is regulated by ARCEP, the French electronic communications regulatory authority, ensuring consistency with European standards.
Use the E.164 format (+596XXXXXXXX) when formatting Martinique numbers for international calls. This format ensures compatibility with various international telecommunication systems.
Manage number portability in Martinique by regularly updating your prefix database, using asynchronous validation, and implementing graceful error handling. Martinique follows a 10-day porting process.
The emergency number for medical assistance (SAMU) in Martinique is 15. Other essential numbers include 17 for Police, 18 for Fire Brigade, and 112 as the universal European emergency number.
Format Martinique numbers with clear separators between the country code, area/service code, and subscriber number. The recommended format is +596 XXX XXXXX for international display and 0XXX XXXXX for national calls inside Martinique.
Asynchronous validation is crucial during critical operations like billing and routing to accurately verify ported numbers in real-time. Local caching and periodic updates of the prefix database are essential for maintaining system performance.
Major telecom operators in Martinique include Orange Caraïbes (market leader), France Telecom (legacy provider), Bouygues Telecom, Outremer Telecom, and Mediaserv. Four firms - Digicel AFG, Free Caraïbe, Orange, and Outremer Telecom - have applied for new frequency assignments set to reshape the telecommunications landscape in the coming years.
Yes, use the regular expression /^596696[0-46-9]\d{6}$|^5966965[0-6]\d{5}$/ to validate Martinique mobile numbers. This regex accounts for variations in subscriber number length.
The 900 MHz frequency licenses in Martinique expire on April 30, 2025. This, along with ARCEP's new frequency assignments, may impact telecommunications providers and services in the coming years.
ARCEP, the French regulatory authority, governs Martinique's telecommunications sector. They mandate quarterly reports from operators ensuring compliance, fair competition, and consumer protection, contributing to high service quality.
Martinique Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide
Introduction
Handle Martinique phone numbers correctly in your application with this comprehensive developer guide. Whether you're building a CRM, contact management system, or telecommunications app, understanding Martinique's unique phone number format is essential. This guide covers the +596 country code, phone number formatting, validation techniques, regulatory requirements, and implementation best practices for calling Martinique from any country.
Common integration challenges when working with Martinique phone numbers include handling the distinctive double "596" pattern in landline numbers (which confuses many validation libraries), implementing mobile number portability lookups, and ensuring emergency number routing meets French telecommunications regulations. This guide addresses these technical challenges with practical code examples and verified regulatory information from ARCEP.
Quick Reference: How to Call Martinique
Martinique Phone System: Background and Regulations
Martinique, as a French overseas territory in the Caribbean, adheres to the French numbering plan governed by ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse). This alignment ensures consistency with European telecommunications standards and provides a robust framework for number management. ARCEP oversees telecommunications regulation across all French overseas territories, ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, and efficient spectrum allocation.
Compliance Requirements
Businesses using Martinique numbers must comply with French telecommunications law under the Code des postes et des communications électroniques (CPCE). Key compliance requirements include:
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assigns country code +596 as Martinique's unique identifier in the global numbering system. For landline numbers, "596" appears twice – once as the country code and again as the first three digits of the local number (e.g., +596 596 30 1234).
Historical Context: The Double "596"
The double "596" pattern in Martinique landline numbers results from the French numbering plan reform of 1996. Prior to 1996, calls from metropolitan France to overseas departments required international dialing (19 + country code). The reform introduced direct dialing using "0" as a trunk code, with the country code repurposed as a geographic area code within the unified French numbering system.
For Martinique landlines, the ITU-assigned country code 596 was retained for international identification, while "596" was also designated as the internal area code prefix for fixed-line services. This created the distinctive format: +596 (country) + 596 (area/service code) + subscriber number. Mobile numbers avoided the duplication by using newly introduced prefixes (696, 697) that begin with "6" to align with the metropolitan French mobile numbering scheme (06, 07). This system was implemented in 2001 when all French overseas departments transitioned to the standardized ten-digit format.
Martinique Phone Number Structure and Format
Understanding Martinique's Unique Numbering System
Martinique uses a 10-digit numbering system for both landlines and mobile phones. This standardized approach simplifies number management and ensures consistency across the island. The structure follows a logical pattern:
Each component serves a specific purpose:
Geographic Distribution: Unlike metropolitan France, Martinique does not use distinct area codes for different cities or regions. All landline prefixes (596 3x through 596 7x) serve the entire island, with assignments based on service provider and capacity rather than geography. Fort-de-France, the capital, shares the same prefix ranges as other municipalities.
Categorizing Number Types
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of number categories, formats, and usage contexts:
596 [3-7]XXXXXXX
596 696 [0-46-9]XXXXXX
0800[0-5]XXXXXX
081[0-9]XXXXXX
089[0-9]XXXXXX
09[5-9]XXXXXXX
Note: Special service numbers (08xx and 09xx) follow the French special numbering scheme. Toll-free numbers (0800-0805) are free to call. Shared-cost numbers (081x, some 082x ranges) charge local rates. Premium-rate numbers (089x) incur significant costs. Always verify pricing with your carrier before calling special service numbers.
Developer Implementation: Validating Martinique Phone Numbers
Phone Number Validation with Regular Expressions
Implement reliable validation to ensure data integrity. Use these regular expressions in your applications:
Validation Edge Cases:
Number Formatting and Display
Present numbers in a user-friendly format for optimal user experience. Use this function:
Locale-Specific Display: French locale conventions use spaces to group digits (e.g., +596 596 31 23 45). Some Caribbean contexts use hyphens (e.g., +596-596-31-23-45). Always respect the user's locale settings when displaying numbers in UI contexts. For database storage and API transmission, use E.164 format exclusively.
Handling Number Portability
Number portability (MNP) allows users to switch carriers while keeping their number. This adds complexity to number management. Address it with these strategies:
Martinique's MNP system launched on April 1, 2006, as part of a coordinated rollout across French overseas départements (Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guyana). The porting process takes 7-10 days unless the subscriber requests a later date, following ARCEP regulations aligned with European best practices.
Implementing MNP Lookups
Mobile number portability requires real-time or near-real-time lookups to determine the current serving operator. Use this practical implementation approach:
MNP Lookup APIs: Several providers offer MNP lookup services for French numbers:
Database Structure Recommendation:
Error Handling
Implement effective error handling for a robust application. Use this example:
Best Practices:
Martinique Emergency Numbers and Essential Services
Handle emergency numbers correctly when implementing telecommunications features in your application. Martinique uses French emergency numbers that must be accessible 24/7:
Technical Requirements for Emergency Routing:
Applications providing voice services in Martinique must comply with emergency service routing obligations:
Legal Obligations: Under French law and FCC 911 regulations (for VoIP providers), failure to properly route emergency calls results in significant penalties, service suspension, and civil liability. Ensure compliance before launching any telecommunications service.
Warning: Always prioritize routing for emergency numbers and ensure 100% uptime for these critical services. All emergency numbers are free to call 24/7.
Martinique Mobile Carriers and Telecom Operators
Understanding the telecommunications landscape in Martinique provides valuable context for number portability and carrier routing. Here are the major mobile carriers and telecom operators:
696 2XXXXX
,696 3XXXXX
596 30XXXX
,596 37XXXX
696 7XXXXX
,696 9XXXXX
596 96XXXX
,596 97XXXX
596 37XXXX
Frequency licenses for the 900 MHz band in Martinique expired on 30 April 2025, with a 35 MHz duplex pair becoming available on 1 May 2025. ARCEP manages the reassignment process for the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands to meet increasing demand for high-quality superfast mobile services.
In 2024, Digicel AFG, Orange, and Outremer Telecom qualified for frequency assignment procedures in the 1800 MHz and 2.1 GHz bands. These three operators were authorized to participate in the principal auction for frequencies in the 1800 MHz band available as of 1 May 2025. These developments will reshape the telecommunications landscape in Martinique over the coming years.
Conclusion
You now have a comprehensive understanding of Martinique's +596 country code, phone number formats, and validation techniques. Whether you're implementing international calling features, validating user input, or building telecommunications applications, the guidelines and code examples in this guide ensure your applications handle Martinique phone numbers accurately and in compliance with ARCEP regulations. For related Caribbean territories, see our guides on Guadeloupe phone numbers and French Guiana phone numbers, which share similar numbering patterns as French overseas territories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the country code for Martinique? The country code for Martinique is +596. When calling Martinique from the United States or Canada, dial 011 + 596 + the 9-digit local number. From Europe and most other countries, dial 00 + 596 + the local number.
How do I validate Martinique mobile numbers? Martinique mobile numbers follow the format
596 696 [0-46-9]XXXXXX
or596 697 XXXXXXX
. Use the regex pattern/^596696[0-46-9]\d{6}$|^5966965[0-6]\d{5}$|^596697\d{7}$/
to validate mobile numbers after removing all non-digit characters.What is the difference between Martinique landline and mobile number formats? Landlines use area codes 3-7 (format:
596 [3-7]XXXXXXX
), while mobile numbers use the prefix 696 or 697 (format:596 696/697 XXXXXXX
). Both use 9 digits after the country code (10 digits with leading 0 for national dialing).Does Martinique support mobile number portability? Yes, Martinique implemented MNP (Mobile Number Portability) on April 1, 2006. The porting process takes 7-10 days unless the subscriber requests a later date, following ARCEP regulations. Use MNP lookup APIs to determine the current serving operator.
Which telecom regulator governs Martinique phone numbers? ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse) governs telecommunications in Martinique as part of France's overseas territories, ensuring compliance with European standards.
What are the emergency numbers in Martinique? Martinique uses French emergency numbers: 15 (SAMU medical), 17 (Police), 18 (Fire Brigade), 112 (European emergency), 196 (Maritime rescue), and 119 (Child protection). All are free to call 24/7 and must never be blocked by applications.
How do I format Martinique phone numbers for E.164 and international dialing? E.164 format for Martinique numbers is
+596
followed by the 9-digit local number without spaces or dashes. For example: +5965963012345 for landlines or +5966962012345 for mobiles. Always use E.164 format for database storage and API integration to ensure compatibility across systems.Which mobile operators serve Martinique? Major operators include Orange Caraïbes (market leader with 4G/5G), Outremer Telecom, Digicel AFG, and Bouygues Telecom. ARCEP manages frequency assignments across the 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 3.4-3.8 GHz bands.
How do I handle premium-rate and toll-free numbers in Martinique? Toll-free numbers start with 0800 (free to call). Premium-rate numbers start with 089x (high cost: €0.80-€3/min plus operator charges). Shared-cost numbers use 081x prefixes. Always validate and warn users before connecting to premium-rate numbers.
What SMS and API integration considerations exist for Martinique numbers? Martinique numbers support international SMS using standard GSM protocols. For API integration, use E.164 format (+5965963012345). Major SMS gateway providers (Twilio, MessageBird, Vonage) support Martinique routing. Be aware that SMS delivery rates may be lower than metropolitan France, and costs are typically higher (€0.05-€0.15 per message).
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