Area code 246
Area code 246 |
|---|
The area code +1 246 is a composite part of the telephone numbering plan for Barbados, also known as the National Numbering Plan.[2] It is part of a system used for assigning telephone numbers in Barbados, and functions as a part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). It is regulated by the government's Telecommunications Unit, which holds responsibility for telecommunications.[3]
Due to a long established affiliation with NANP, phone numbers in Barbados are often styled as "(246) NXX-xxxx". However, this can cause confusion with Diego Garcia which is country code +246 under the International Telecommunications Union standard E.164.[4] As such, other international standards like E.123 strongly advocate the inclusion of a "+1" prefix to indicate "246" is a part of the NANP.[5]
History
The 246 area code was created during a split from the original +1 809 area code, which was done on or around the date July 1996.[6][7] By 15 January 1997 all calls placed to Barbados required the use of the prefix +1 246 prefix.[6]
Dialing to Barbados
- From within North America (NANP)
When calling Barbados from elsewhere in the North American Numbering Plan (e.g. from the United States or Canada), callers dial as if undertaking regular ten-digit dialing within those countries. Callers must simply dial 1 + 246 + seven digit phone number.
- From outside NANP
When calling to Barbados from outside the NANP (e.g. from the United Kingdom), callers must dial their international dialling prefix followed by 1 to access the North American Numbering Plan. For example, a call placed from the United Kingdom would be dialled as 00 + 1 + 246 + local seven digit phone number. Failure to include the number "1", would result in accessing country calling code +246 of British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia).[8]
Dialing within Barbados
When placing a phone call from Barbados, also known as HPNA, callers simply use seven-digit dialling (i.e. dialling the last seven digits of the phone number). Unlike in some other Caribbean islands, most residential landline subscribers have unlimited/un-metered rates for calling other local landlines.
- To North America (NANP)
When calling to other places in the North American Numbering Plan, calls are dialed as if undertaking regular ten-digit dialing in those countries. Callers must simply dial 1 + NPA (area code) + seven digit phone number.
Though usually toll-free when dialled from the US, not all 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, or 1-866 are toll-free when being dialled from Barbados, and may be treated as a toll call. If the number is not toll-free a recording will give directions of how to place a fee based call.
- To areas outside the NANP
When calling to areas outside the NANP (e.g. the United Kingdom), callers dial 011 + country calling code + phone number. In the case of the UK, a user would dial 011 + 44 + area code + UK phone number.
General
- Police Force: 211, Ambulance: 511, Fire: 311
- Information/Directory Assistance: 411
- Operator: 0
Central Office Codes
In the NANP telephone format of +1-NPA-NXX-xxxx, the central office codes fall in the position of NXX. In 1996 the following central office numbering plan was put in place by the incumbent local exchange carrier.[6][9]
| Location (By parish or central office) |
Numbers |
|---|---|
| Christ Church | 418, 420, 428 |
| Grazettes | 417, 421, 424, 425, 438 |
| St. James | 432 |
| St. John | 433 |
| St. Lucy | 439 |
| St. Philip | 423 |
| Telebarbados | 620-629 |
| Special services | 978 |
| Speightstown | 419, 422 |
| Windsor Lodge | 228, 426, 427, 429, 430, 431, 434, 435, 436, 437 |
| Cellular | 230 |
| Spare | 220 |
Mobile operators
Following liberalisation of the telecommunications industry in Barbados, various central office codes were implemented for local mobile carriers. The following COs were outlined in 2004 by the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities.[10] In most cases Barbados numbers beginning with the following central office codes do not permit incoming collect calls.
| Digicel | Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment (LIME) (formerly bMobile) |
Sunbeach | Ace Communications International Telephony | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 258, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829[‡ 1] | 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254 | 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459 | 776, 777, 778, 223 | |
| ||||
VoIP providers
- 310 - 359[11]
Geographic
Other landline central office codes which have been activated include the following:
- 227, 228, 229, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 292, 367, 410, 412, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 439, 736, 737, 753, 757, 958, 976
See also
References
- ^ In the event a number is print such as +1 246 555-5555/7777, "/7777" is usually treated as an alternate last four. (i.e. +1 246 555-7777).
- ^ Admin. (2008). "Policies, Plan & Registers". Telecoms Unit. Ministry of Finance, Investment, Telecommunications and Energy (MFIE). Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "About Us". Telecoms Unit. Ministry of Finance, Investment, Telecommunications and Energy (MFIE). Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Admin. (2008). "E.164 : The international public telecommunication numbering plan". International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help) - ^ Admin. (2008). "E.123 : Notation for national and international telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web addresses". International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help) - ^ a b c NANP Administration System (July 2010). "Planning Letter(s): IL95/12-006". NeuStar, Inc. NANP System administrator. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=and|separator=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ NANP Administrator (4 December 1995). "Introduction of 246 (Barbados) Numbering Plan Area (NPA)" (PDF). Bellcore.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help) - ^ Cable and Wireless - Diego Gracia Template:Wayback
- ^ Template:PDFlink, Bellcore Letter IL-95/12-006
- ^ Admin. (2008). "National Numbering Plans". International Telecommunication Union. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|trans_title=,|month=, and|separator=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Barbados Voice over Internet Protocol Policy Template:Wayback (VoIP), Barbados Min. of Finance, Investment, Telecommunications and Energy (MFIE) - Telecommunications Unit
External links
- The Barbados Telecommunications Unit - In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & International Business
- North American Numbering Plan Administrator
- List of exchanges from AreaCodeDownload.com, 246 Area Code
| North: Caribbean Sea | ||
| West: 758, 784 | Area code 246 | East: Atlantic Ocean |
| South: 868 | ||
| Saint Lucia area codes: 758 | ||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines area codes: 784 | ||
| Trinidad and Tobago area codes: 868 | ||