Frequently Asked Questions
The area code for the Greater Tunis Region in Tunisia is 71. This two-digit prefix is used for landline numbers within the capital and surrounding areas.
The Tunisia country code is +216. This code precedes the 8-digit National Significant Number (NSN) when dialing internationally to Tunisia, ensuring the call is correctly routed.
Tunisian phone numbers locally are formatted as XX XXX XXX, separating the 8-digit NSN into three groups. For example, a Tunis landline number would be formatted as 71 234 567.
Use the regular expression /^(2[0-9]|5[0-9]|9[0-9])\d{6}$/ to validate Tunisian mobile numbers. This regex checks for the correct operator prefixes (20-29 for Tunisie Telecom, 50-59 for Ooredoo, and 90-99 for Orange) followed by six digits.
Regional prefixes for landlines (71-78) in Tunisia identify specific regions within the country. For instance, 71 designates the Greater Tunis Region while 72 points to Northern Tunisia. This system helps geographically categorize calls and services.
The emergency number for the police in Tunisia is 190. This number, along with other emergency numbers like 197 for fire and 198 for ambulance, are accessible 24/7 from any phone, even without a SIM card.
Toll-free numbers in Tunisia begin with the prefix 80, followed by six more digits (80 XXX XXX). Identifying these allows for special handling in applications, often excluding charges or applying alternative routing logic.
Consider MNP when building applications that require accurate operator information. Because users can keep their numbers when switching providers, relying solely on prefixes can be misleading. Using a real-time number lookup service or consulting the INT's SLA for MNP guidelines are crucial steps.
To format with the country code, remove all non-digit characters, then prepend '+216 ' and group the remaining digits: `+216 XX XXX XXX`. Example: +216 20 123 456. This ensures international compatibility.
Special service numbers in Tunisia, like toll-free (80 XXX XXX), premium rate (88 XXX XXX), and shared cost (81 XXX XXX), require specific handling within applications. This might involve different billing logic or specialized routing compared to standard calls.
Tunisia has four primary mobile operators: Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo, Orange Tunisia, and Lycamobile. This competitive market, combined with the government's efforts for digitalization, has resulted in a standardized numbering system.
You can determine the area code by examining the first two digits of the 8-digit National Significant Number (NSN). Valid area codes for geographic numbers range from 71 to 78, representing different regions across the country.
Understanding Tunisia's telecommunications system is crucial for developers as it allows them to correctly validate, format, and process phone numbers. The country's high mobile penetration rate and ongoing digitalization efforts make this knowledge even more important for effective integration.
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Tunisia Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide
Introduction
Are you developing an application that interacts with Tunisian phone numbers? Understanding the nuances of Tunisia's telecommunications system is crucial for seamless integration. This guide provides a deep dive into Tunisian phone number formats, validation techniques, best practices, and potential pitfalls to consider during implementation. We'll equip you with the knowledge to confidently handle Tunisian phone numbers in your projects.
Background on Tunisia's Telecommunications Landscape
Before diving into the technical details, let's take a quick look at the current state of Tunisia's telecommunications sector. This context will help you understand the "why" behind some of the formatting and validation rules. Tunisia boasts a high mobile penetration rate, exceeding 149.7% as of 2022, with over 15.9 million mobile lines. This vibrant market is served by four major operators: Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo, Orange Tunisia, and Lycamobile. This competitive landscape, combined with the government's push for digitalization, has led to a modern and standardized numbering system. You'll find this standardization reflected in the predictable structure of Tunisian phone numbers.
Number Formats in Tunisia
Tunisia uses an 8-digit National Significant Number (NSN) preceded by the country code +216. This consistent structure simplifies parsing and validation. Let's break down the different number types you'll encounter.
Geographic Numbers (Landlines)
Geographic numbers identify landlines within specific regions of Tunisia. You can determine the region by looking at the first two digits of the NSN.
Regional Prefixes:
Format:
XX XXX XXX
Example: 71 234 567
Best Practice: When working with geographic numbers, validate both the prefix (71-78) and the overall 8-digit NSN structure. This ensures accuracy and helps you avoid common input errors.
Mobile Numbers
Mobile numbers are identified by operator prefixes, allowing for easy provider identification. This is particularly useful when integrating with carrier-specific APIs or services.
Operator Prefixes:
Format:
XX XXX XXX
Example: 20 123 456
Consider this: While these prefixes generally identify the operator, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) can introduce exceptions. We'll discuss MNP in more detail later.
Emergency Service Numbers
Tunisia uses a standardized set of emergency numbers accessible from any phone, even without a SIM card. Your application should handle these numbers correctly, ensuring they are never blocked or incorrectly formatted.
Warning: Ensure your application allows calls to emergency numbers even when offline or without a SIM card. This is a critical safety requirement.
Special Service Numbers
Special service numbers follow distinct patterns for toll-free, premium rate, and shared cost services. You should be aware of these patterns when validating user input or routing calls.
80 XXX XXX
(Example: 80 100 123)88 XXX XXX
(Example: 88 123 456)81 XXX XXX
(Example: 81 234 567)Best Practice: Clearly identify and handle special service numbers differently in your application, especially regarding billing or routing logic.
Implementation Guide for Developers
Now that you understand the different number formats, let's explore how to implement them in your code.
Validation and Formatting in JavaScript
Here's how you can validate and format Tunisian phone numbers using JavaScript:
These regular expressions provide a basic level of validation. However, for more robust validation, consider using a dedicated library or service.
This function formats numbers for both local and international display, improving user experience.
Advanced Implementation with TypeScript
For more complex applications, consider using TypeScript to define clear data structures:
This interface helps you maintain data integrity and improve code readability.
Geographic Number Validation with Area Code Check
You can enhance geographic number validation by explicitly checking the area code:
This function provides a more precise validation check, ensuring the area code is valid.
Handling Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Tunisia, like many countries, has implemented Mobile Number Portability (MNP). This allows users to switch operators while keeping their existing number. This can complicate validation and routing, as operator prefixes are no longer guaranteed to be accurate. You should be aware of this when designing your system. As noted by the Tunisian telecom authority INT (Instance Nationale des Telecommunications), major operators including Tunisie Telecom, Ooredoo, Orange, and Lycamobile Tunisia have signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for MNP. This agreement aims to standardize the process and improve quality. However, you should still implement robust error handling and fallback mechanisms.
Best Practice: Use a real-time number lookup service to determine the current operator for a given number. Cache these lookups to improve performance, but ensure your cache is updated regularly.
This example demonstrates a best-practice approach, using a lookup service with a prefix-based fallback.
Conclusion
You now have a comprehensive understanding of Tunisian phone number formats, validation techniques, and best practices for implementation. By following the guidance in this guide, you can ensure your application handles Tunisian phone numbers accurately and efficiently. Remember to consider MNP and implement appropriate error handling to create a robust and reliable system. With Tunisia's growing telecommunications market and the government's focus on digitalization (as highlighted by the "Digital Tunisia 2020" program), understanding these details is more critical than ever for developers.