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Bulgaria Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Explore Bulgaria's phone number formats (+359): area codes, structure, and validation. Includes landline (0[2-9]X{5,7}), mobile (08[7-9]X{7}) regex. Examples: Sofia (02), Plovdiv (032). Covers dialing, portability since 2007, and CRC regulation. Ideal for developers needing accurate telecom data.

Phone number standards2 min read

Quick Reference

  • Country: Bulgaria
  • Country Code: +359
  • International Prefix: 00
  • National Prefix: 0

Overview

This guide offers a detailed examination of Bulgaria's telephone numbering plan, including number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory aspects. It is tailored for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators seeking accurate and practical information.

Number Structure

General Number Format

Bulgaria's phone numbers are organized as follows:

  • Country Code: +359
  • National (Trunk) Prefix: 0
  • Area Code: 1 to 5 digits
  • Subscriber Number: 3 to 7 digits

Number Formats by Type

TypeFormatExample
Geographic0[2-9]X{5,7}029123456, 0321234567
Mobile08[7-9]X{7}0878123456, 0899123456
Toll-Free00800X{5}0080012345
Premium Rate090X{6}0900123456
Shared Cost0700X{5}070012345
Emergency1XX112

Regular Expressions

Use these regular expressions to validate Bulgarian phone numbers:

  • Geographic: ^0[2-9]\d{5,7}$
  • Mobile: ^08[7-9]\d{7}$
  • Toll-Free: ^00800\d{5}$
  • Premium Rate: ^090\d{6}$
  • Shared Cost: ^0700\d{5}$
  • Emergency: ^1\d{2}$

Examples

  • Geographic: 0321234567 (Plovdiv)
  • Mobile: 0878123456 (Yettel)
  • Toll-Free: 0080012345
  • Premium Rate: 0900123456
  • Shared Cost: 070012345
  • Emergency: 112 (General emergency)

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

  • Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number]
    • Example: 0321234567
  • Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + [Mobile Prefix] + [Subscriber Number]
    • Example: 0878123456
  • Mobile to Mobile: Dial [Mobile Prefix] + [Subscriber Number]
    • Example: 0899123456

International Calls

  • Outgoing: Dial 00 + [Country Code] + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number]
    • Example (to Germany): 0049 30 1234567
  • Incoming: Dial +359 + [Area Code] + [Subscriber Number]
    • Example: +359 2 9123456

Number Portability

Since 2007, Bulgaria has allowed number portability for both mobile and fixed-line numbers, enhancing customer retention and competition in the telecom market.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

OperatorMobile PrefixesFixed-Line Prefixes
Vivacom087, 08802 (Sofia), 052 (Varna)
Yettel (formerly M-Tel)087, 088032 (Plovdiv)
A1 Bulgaria088, 089056 (Burgas)
Telenor089

Regulatory and Numbering Management

Regulatory Body

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) manages Bulgaria's numbering plan, ensuring compliance with ITU-T standards like E.164, and oversees number allocation and portability.

Number Allocation and Management

Numbers are allocated based on service type (e.g., geographic, mobile, toll-free) and managed by the CRC to ensure efficient use and prevent number exhaustion.

Recent and Upcoming Changes

Recent updates include reallocating mobile prefixes like 087 and 089 to meet demand. No major upcoming changes are currently announced.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and Systems Administrators

  • Validation: Implement the provided regular expressions to validate phone numbers.
  • Portability: Check for number portability when routing calls or messages.
  • Internationalization: Ensure systems handle the +359 country code and strip the leading 0 for domestic numbers.
  • Emergency Numbers: Prioritize and correctly route calls to emergency numbers like 112.

Frequently asked questions

To dial a Bulgarian landline from a mobile phone within Bulgaria, dial 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. For instance, to call a landline in Sofia (area code 02), dial 02 followed by the seven-digit local number. This procedure applies to calls within Bulgaria.

The country code for Bulgaria is +359. This code is used when making international calls to Bulgaria from any other country. Remember to drop the leading zero from the area code when dialing internationally.

Bulgaria uses 0 as its national (trunk) prefix, similar to many other countries. This prefix indicates that the following number is a domestic destination within Bulgaria and must be dialed before the area code for calls within the country.

You should include the +359 country code when dialing a Bulgarian number from outside Bulgaria. This signals to the international phone network that you're calling a Bulgarian number. If dialing within Bulgaria, use 0 instead of +359.

Use the regular expression ^08[7-9]\d{7}$ to validate Bulgarian mobile phone numbers. This expression ensures the number starts with 087, 088, or 089, followed by seven digits, matching the format of mobile numbers in Bulgaria.

The general emergency number for Bulgaria is 112. This number provides access to emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance, similar to 911 in the United States or 999 in the United Kingdom.

Dial the international access code (00 or +), followed by Bulgaria's country code (+359), the area code (without the leading 0), and the local subscriber number. Ensure you remove the national prefix (0) from the area code when dialing internationally.

Common area codes in Bulgaria include 02 for Sofia, 032 for Plovdiv, 052 for Varna, 056 for Burgas. These codes represent major cities and are crucial for routing calls to landlines within those specific regions.

Yes, you can call toll-free numbers in Bulgaria from abroad using the format 00800 followed by a five-digit number. Ensure to dial the international prefix 00 before dialing the toll-free prefix.

Number portability in Bulgaria, introduced in 2007, allows subscribers to keep their existing phone numbers when switching providers. This applies to both mobile and fixed-line numbers and has fostered competition among telecom operators in Bulgaria.

Both Vivacom and A1 Bulgaria use the mobile prefix 088. While Yettel formerly used 088, it has transitioned and now shares the 087 prefix with Vivacom.

The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) is the regulatory body for telecommunications in Bulgaria. The CRC manages the numbering plan, ensures compliance with international standards, and oversees number allocation and portability.

Phone numbers in Bulgaria are allocated based on service type (geographic, mobile, toll-free, etc.) by the CRC. This ensures efficient use of numbers and prevents number exhaustion. They adhere to international standards for phone number formatting.