Telephone numbers in Latvia

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The Latvian numbering plan is a closed telephone numbering plan. Subscribers' numbers are all a standard length of 8 digits and are used for all calls, even in the same area. Telephone numbering in Latvia is controlled by the Public Utilities Commission[1] and Electronic Communications Office.[2]

Country Code: +371
International Call Prefix: 00
Trunk Prefix: none


Contents

[edit] Local calls

Under the current numbering plan in Latvia, all phone numbers are 8 digits long, starting with a 2 or 3 digit, except for smaller towns, which have 4 digits, city code for landlines. For all calls, local and national, all 8 digits must be dialed, except for emergency or other special short numbers.

Example: To make national calls from Riga to Jelgava 630xxxxx should be dialed. To make local calls within Riga 67xxxxxx or 66xxxxxx should be dialed.

[edit] International calls

Dial 00 followed by the remote country code and subscriber number.

Examples:

  • Calling from Latvia to UK (mobile number, 07700 900700): call 00 44 7700 900700
  • Calling from Latvia to United States (New York number, 212 555 2345): call 00 1 212 555 2345

[edit] Emergency calls

  • 112 - main
  • 01 - fire department
  • 02 - police
  • 03 or 113 - emergency medical service
  • 04 - emergency gas service

112 calls are handled by the State Fire and Rescue Service. If police or medical assistance is required, the call is redirected to the department the caller asks for. 0x-numbers are not reachable from mobile phones on their own but they can be prefixed with +371, e.g. +371 0x.

In July 2010 the number 113 was introduced for emergency medical service, operated by State Emergency Medical Service of Latvia. 113 is reachable from mobile phones, landlines and also payphones.

There are plans to introduce new number 110 for police in 2010 that will be reachable from mobile phones (the current ones will remain in service).[3]

[edit] Special Services

Special service numbers in Latvia may have different lengths, ranging from 3 to 6 digits. Formerly, before changes to the numbering plan were introduced on September 4, 2008, there were only 3 or 4 digit numbers.

  • 11x-numbers (except 112, 113) are usually used by telephone companies for special services, such as dialing assistance or phone line damage reports.
  • 1xx-numbers are allocated to different companies for client services. Calling costs vary depending on the service provider, e.g. Lattelecom client service number 177 is toll-free for those who call from Lattelecom network phones, but it is not free to those who call from mobile networks.
  • 118x-numbers are allocated to inquiry services.
  • 16xx-numbers are allocated to network providers (both mobile and landline) for client services. These numbers are available only for calling from particular networks. (Example: 1655 is available only for LMT clients)
  • 116xxx-numbers are not allocated yet, but are expected to be used for toll-free non-commercial social services.
  • 18xx-numbers are allocated to different companies for various services. Some of these numbers are available for calls, some are sms only.
  • 82xxx-Premium-rate services (for example, speaking clock services, such as 82154 or 82174)
  • 88xx and 89xx-numbers Premium-rate numbers for services that may include gambling, erotic material or violence.

Some special service number holders have 8-digit geographical numbers to make their services available for access from abroad. Usually these numbers are chosen to be similar to short numbers. (Example: Latvian railway information service number 1181 is accessible from abroad by dialling +37167231181)

[edit] Numbering plan[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Sabiedrisko pakalpojumu regulēšanas komisija (Public Utilities Commission)". http://www.sprk.gov.lv/?setl=2. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
  2. ^ "Elektronisko sakaru direkcija (Electronic Communications Office)". http://www.sprk.gov.lv/?setl=2. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
  3. ^ Iekšlietu ministrija (Ministry of the Interior). "Operatīvos dienestus nepastarpināti varēs izsaukt arī no mobilā tālruņa (Emergency services will be reachable directly from mobile phones)" (in Latvian). http://www.iem.gov.lv/lat/aktualitates/informacija_medijiem/?doc=18049. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
  4. ^ "Numuru pielietojums (Number assignment)" (in Latvian). http://numuri.lv/default.aspx?action=1. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 

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