Sudan Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Introduction

Sudan uses the +249 country code for all international calls. This comprehensive guide explains Sudan's phone number format, how to dial Sudanese numbers domestically and internationally, validation patterns, area codes, and operator-specific number ranges. Whether you're implementing phone validation, integrating with Sudan's telecom system, or simply need to call a Sudan number, you'll find practical examples and best practices here.

Sudan Phone Number Format Explained

How Sudan Phone Numbers Are Structured

Sudan phone numbers follow a standardized format that combines the country code (+249), area or network code, and subscriber number:

Number Structure Breakdown:

+249  -  XX(X)  -  XXXXXX(X)
  ↓       ↓          ↓
Country  Area/     Subscriber
Code    Network    Number
        Code       (6-7 digits)
        (2-3 digits)

• Country Code: +249 – identifies Sudanese numbers globally
• National Number: 9-10 digits comprising:
  • Area/Network Code: 2-3 digit prefix indicating geographic region or service type (mobile, landline, etc.)
  • Subscriber Number: 6-7 digit unique identifier for each user

Number Categories and Patterns

Differentiate between various Sudanese number types using these format patterns:

Regex Pattern Guide: Each pattern uses standard regex syntax where [0-9] means any digit, {8} means exactly 8 occurrences, and | means "or."

Validate Numbers with Regex

Use regular expressions to validate Sudanese phone numbers in your applications:

// Validation patterns for different number types
const patterns = {
  general: /^1[0-9]{8}$/,
  landline: /^1[58][35-7][0-9]{6}$/,
  mobile: /^(?:1[0-2][0-9]{7}|9[0-3569][0-9]{7})$/,
  tollFree: /^800[0-9]{6}$/,
  premium: /^900[0-9]{6}$/
};

// Example validation function
function validateSudanNumber(number, type) {
  const pattern = patterns[type];
  return pattern ? pattern.test(number) : false;
}

// Example usage:
console.log(validateSudanNumber('1201234567', 'mobile')); // Returns true
console.log(validateSudanNumber('1583456789', 'landline')); // Returns true
console.log(validateSudanNumber('800123456', 'tollFree')); // Returns true
console.log(validateSudanNumber('900123456', 'premium')); // Returns true
console.log(validateSudanNumber('1234567890', 'mobile')); // Returns false (invalid format)

Handle Edge Cases:

Clean input before validation by removing whitespace and non-digit characters:

// Clean and validate input
function cleanAndValidate(input, type) {
  // Remove whitespace, hyphens, parentheses, and spaces
  const cleaned = input.trim().replace(/[\s\-()]/g, '');

  // Remove leading + and country code if present
  const localNumber = cleaned.replace(/^\+?249/, '');

  // Remove leading 0 for validation
  const normalized = localNumber.replace(/^0/, '');

  // Validate
  if (!validateSudanNumber(normalized, type)) {
    throw new Error(`Invalid Sudan ${type} number format. Expected format: ${getExpectedFormat(type)}`);
  }

  return normalized;
}

function getExpectedFormat(type) {
  const formats = {
    mobile: '1XX XXXXXXX or 9XX XXXXXXX',
    landline: '15X XXXXXX or 18X XXXXXX',
    tollFree: '800 XXXXXX',
    premium: '900 XXXXXX'
  };
  return formats[type] || 'Unknown format';
}

// Example usage:
try {
  cleanAndValidate('+249 91 234 5678', 'mobile'); // Valid
  cleanAndValidate('(091) 234-5678', 'mobile');   // Valid
  cleanAndValidate('1234567890', 'mobile');       // Throws error
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error.message);
}

How to Dial Sudan Phone Numbers

Dialing Within Sudan (Domestic Calls)

When calling within Sudan, use the national prefix '0' followed by the full number:

Landline to Landline: 01587345678  (National Prefix + Full Number)
Landline to Mobile:   0912345678    (National Prefix + Full Number)
Mobile to Mobile:     0912345678    (National Prefix + Full Number)

Always use the national prefix '0' before the full number to route calls correctly within Sudan's network.

Common Dialing Errors:

• Omitting the '0' prefix: Call fails to connect. Solution: Add '0' before the number.
• Including country code domestically: Results in incorrect routing. Solution: Use '0' prefix instead of '+249' for domestic calls.
• Incomplete number entry: Call connects to wrong subscriber. Solution: Verify full 10-digit number (with '0' prefix).

Calling Sudan from Abroad (International Dialing)

To call a Sudan phone number from another country, use the +249 country code:

Outgoing (from Sudan): 00 + Country Code + Number
Example: 00441234567890 (calling the UK)

Incoming (to Sudan): +249 + Local Number (without 0)
Example: +249912345678

Use the international prefix '00' when dialing out from Sudan. For incoming international calls, use country code '+249' and omit the national prefix '0'.

API Implementation Example:

function formatForAPI(sudanNumber, context) {
  const cleaned = sudanNumber.replace(/[^\d]/g, '');

  if (context === 'international') {
    // Remove leading 0, add country code
    return `+249${cleaned.replace(/^0/, '')}`;
  } else if (context === 'domestic') {
    // Ensure leading 0 is present
    return cleaned.startsWith('0') ? cleaned : `0${cleaned}`;
  }

  return cleaned;
}

// Usage:
formatForAPI('0912345678', 'international'); // Returns: +249912345678
formatForAPI('912345678', 'domestic');       // Returns: 0912345678

Integrate with Telecom Operators

Sudan's major telecom operators use specific number ranges for operator detection and routing optimization:

Regulatory Updates:

Consult the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) for updated number ranges to ensure compliance with current regulations. Number ranges typically remain stable but can change with new operator licenses or network expansions. Monitor NTC announcements quarterly to stay current.

// Operator detection function
function detectOperator(number) {
  const cleaned = number.replace(/^\+?249/, '').replace(/^0/, '');

  const operatorMap = {
    '91': 'Sudatel',
    '92': 'Zain Sudan',
    '99': 'MTN Sudan',
    '15': 'Canar'
  };

  const prefix = cleaned.substring(0, 2);
  return operatorMap[prefix] || 'Unknown';
}

Build Robust Phone Number Systems

Implementation Best Practices

Follow these best practices when working with Sudanese phone numbers:

1. Number Storage: Store numbers in E.164 format (+249…). This international standard ensures consistency and interoperability.

   javascript

   const formatE164 = (number) => {
     if (!number) throw new Error('Number is required');
   
     const cleaned = number.replace(/[^\d+]/g, '');
   
     if (cleaned.startsWith('+249')) {
       return cleaned;
     } else if (cleaned.startsWith('249')) {
       return `+${cleaned}`;
     } else if (cleaned.startsWith('0')) {
       return `+249${cleaned.substring(1)}`;
     } else {
       return `+249${cleaned}`;
     }
   };
   

2. Display Formatting: Format numbers for local display (0…) to improve readability for Sudanese users.

   javascript

   const formatLocalDisplay = (number) => {
     return number.replace(/^\+249/, '0');
   };
   

3. Validation Implementation: Implement comprehensive validation to catch invalid formats and prevent errors.

   javascript

   const isValidSudanNumber = (number) => {
     const cleanNumber = number.replace(/[^\d+]/g, ''); // Allow "+"
     return Object.values(patterns).some(pattern => pattern.test(cleanNumber));
   };
   

4. Design for Resilience: Sudan's telecommunications infrastructure faces significant disruptions from ongoing conflict (as reported by the Norwegian Refugee Council and other organizations). Build applications with fallback mechanisms:

   javascript

   // Offline-first pattern with IndexedDB
   async function sendSMS(number, message) {
     const smsData = { number, message, timestamp: Date.now() };
   
     try {
       // Attempt immediate send
       await apiClient.send(smsData);
       return { success: true, queued: false };
     } catch (error) {
       // Queue for later if network fails
       await queueMessage(smsData);
       return { success: true, queued: true };
     }
   }
   
   async function queueMessage(data) {
     const db = await openDB('sms-queue');
     await db.add('pending', data);
   }
   
   // Retry queued messages when connection restores
   async function processQueue() {
     const db = await openDB('sms-queue');
     const pending = await db.getAll('pending');
   
     for (const msg of pending) {
       try {
         await apiClient.send(msg);
         await db.delete('pending', msg.id);
       } catch (error) {
         // Keep in queue for next retry
         console.log('Retry failed, keeping in queue');
       }
     }
   }
   

5. Support Emergency Communications: The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) maintains critical communication infrastructure during emergencies. For humanitarian applications, design systems that gracefully degrade when primary networks fail and support SMS fallback for data services.

Additional Considerations

Using libphonenumber:

Install and use libphonenumber-js for comprehensive phone number handling:

npm install libphonenumber-js

import { parsePhoneNumber, isValidPhoneNumber } from 'libphonenumber-js';

// Parse and validate
const phoneNumber = parsePhoneNumber('+249912345678');
console.log(phoneNumber.country);           // 'SD'
console.log(phoneNumber.nationalNumber);    // '912345678'
console.log(phoneNumber.formatInternational()); // '+249 91 234 5678'
console.log(phoneNumber.formatNational());      // '091 234 5678'

// Quick validation
console.log(isValidPhoneNumber('0912345678', 'SD')); // true

• Monitor Regulatory Changes: Stay informed about NTC updates to telecommunications regulations and numbering plans to maintain compliance. Subscribe to NTC announcements and review quarterly for any numbering plan changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the country code for Sudan phone numbers?

Sudan uses the country code +249 for all international calls. When dialing Sudan from abroad, prefix the local number with +249 and omit the leading 0. For example, to call 0912345678 from outside Sudan, dial +249912345678.

How do I validate a Sudan mobile number with regex?

Use the regex pattern /^(?:1[0-2][0-9]{7}|9[0-3569][0-9]{7})$/ to validate Sudan mobile numbers. This pattern matches:

• Numbers starting with 10, 11, or 12 (Sudatel, Zain, other carriers)
• Numbers starting with 90, 93, 95, 96, or 99 (MTN and other carriers)
• Total length: 9 digits (without country code or leading 0)

What is the correct format for storing Sudan phone numbers?

Store Sudan phone numbers in E.164 format: +249 followed by the 9-10 digit national number (without the leading 0). For example, store 0912345678 as +249912345678. This international standard ensures consistency across systems and simplifies international dialing.

Which mobile operators serve Sudan and what are their number ranges?

Sudan's major mobile operators are Sudatel (091xxxxxxx), Zain Sudan (092xxxxxxx), and MTN Sudan (099xxxxxxx). Sudatel and MTN provide nationwide coverage, while Zain focuses primarily on urban areas. Canar (015xxxxxxx) provides fixed-line services in major cities.

How do I dial domestically within Sudan?

For domestic calls within Sudan, always use the national prefix 0 before the full number. All domestic call types follow the same format: 0 + full number. For example, dial 0912345678 for mobile-to-mobile calls or 01587345678 for landline-to-landline calls.

What challenges affect Sudan's telecommunications infrastructure?

Sudan's telecommunications infrastructure faces significant disruptions from ongoing conflict, as reported by the Norwegian Refugee Council and other humanitarian organizations. Network outages and connectivity issues are common. Design applications with resilience features like data caching, offline-first strategies, and alternative communication channels.

How do toll-free and premium numbers work in Sudan?

Toll-free numbers in Sudan follow the format 800[0-9]{6} (e.g., 800123456) and provide free calling for customer support. Premium numbers follow the format 900[0-9]{6} (e.g., 900123456) and charge callers per-minute fees for information or entertainment services.

Where can I find official Sudan telecommunications regulations?

Consult the National Telecommunications Corporation (NTC) website for official Sudan telecommunications regulations, updated number ranges, and numbering plan changes. Regular monitoring ensures your application remains compliant with current regulations and accurately handles new number allocations.

Conclusion

You now have the knowledge to integrate with Sudan's phone number system. Use the provided validation patterns, implement proper E.164 storage, and design for resilience given Sudan's challenging telecommunications landscape.

Next Steps:

1. Implement E.164 storage for all phone numbers
2. Add offline-first capabilities for network disruptions
3. Test with all operator number ranges
4. Monitor NTC announcements for regulatory updates
5. Review E.164 format documentation for international standards

Related Resources:

• E.164 Phone Number Format Guide - International phone number standard
• 10DLC SMS Registration - SMS compliance for US messaging
• Phone Number Lookup - Validate and verify phone numbers