Australian telephone numbers

The Australian Telephone Numbering Plan details how different phone numbers are allotted across the country of Australia. It has undergone numerous transformations, with the most recent significant one being carried out between the years of 1994 and 1998 by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). [1]

Overview [ edit ]

When it comes to fixed-line telephone service, Australia is currently segmented into four major geographic regions, three of which encompass more than one state and/or territory each. All of the local telephone numbers found within these four regions each have eight digits, with the first four digits serving primarily as an exchange code and the remaining four digits serving as the actual number. The national significant number, which has a total of nine digits, begins with a single-digit area code and is then followed by the local number, which has eight digits. To reach the number of a landline telephone in an area of Australia other than that in which the caller is located (including callers using mobile phones), it is necessary to first dial the Australian trunk code of 0 followed by the area code, and then the local number. This applies even if the caller is making the call from within Australia. Therefore, the full national number, also known as the FNN, consists of ten digits: 0x xxxx xxxx

• 00 Access for International Travel and Emergencies (for further information, see below).
• 01 Additional options for phone service
  • 014 Satellite phones are available.
  • 0163 Pager numbers
  • 0198 Data numbers (e g The number for Telstra's dial-up Point of Presence is 0198 308 888.
• 02 Geographic: the Central East region, which includes both NSW and ACT
• 03 Geographic: South-East region (including both Victoria and Tasmania)
• 04 Mobile digital services (3G, 4G, and 5G in addition to GSM)
• 0550 Services of Communication That Are Independent of Their Location
• 07 Geographical location: the North-East region of Queensland
• 08 Geographic: the Central and Western region, including South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia
• 1 Non-geographic numbers (primarily reserved for use within the United States; for further information, see below).

It would appear that the current numbering plan is adequate to deal with any potential rise in demand for services that may occur for a considerable amount of time in the future. Both the 06 and 09 area codes have been abandoned and are no longer in use. In addition, there are large number ranges that are not assigned in each of the current area codes.

After dialing the appropriate International Access Code, callers dialing from outside Australia are required to then dial the country code for Australia (61), followed by the nine-digit national significant number. (The symbol, which stands for the International Access Code, e g 61 3 xxxx xxxx for a number in Victoria or Tasmania; 61 4xx xxx xxx for a mobile number) 61 4xx xxx xxx for a mobile number After dialing the necessary international access code and the country code for Australia (61), it is possible to dial some numbers beginning with a 1 without making any replacements. (see below)

Local area numbers in Australia consist of eight digits and are written in the format xxxx xxxx according to the country's conventions. When dialing a mobile number from within Australia, the leading zero must be included in the number, followed by the number 4. This combination indicates that the desired service is a mobile number. Mobile numbers are written in the form of ten-digit strings. Conventionally, mobile phone numbers are written out as 04xx xxx xxx. If a landline or mobile phone number is published in a location where it can be seen by people from other countries (e.g., a public sign), it is possible that people from other countries will see it g when the number is written online (for example, in a person's email signature or on a website), it is frequently formatted as 61 x xxxx xxxx or 61 4xx xxx xxx.

(Calls that originate from locations outside of Australia do not use the digit 0, which is the "Australian national trunk access code." )

Numbers based on geography [ edit ]

In Australia, fixed line telephone numbers are used.

(Within Australia, it is necessary to first dial the trunk code of 0, followed by the area code, and then the specific local number in order to access a number that is located in a different region.)

The first four digits of a telephone number in a major center identify the Call Collection Area (CCA), which is also referred to as an exchange. The remaining digits of the number identify a specific number within that exchange; a total of up to 10,000 people may be connected to that exchange. Because smaller exchanges tend to be located in more remote areas, there may be a maximum of one hundred numbers that can be connected to each exchange.

Simply dialing the eight digits concerned is all that is required to gain access to numbers that are located in the same geographic region. It is necessary to first dial the trunk code of 0, then the area code (either 2, 3, 7, or 8), and finally the specific local number in order to access a number that is located in a different geographic region.

The boundaries of the states and territories do not correspond exactly to the area codes. The region of New South Wales surrounding Broken Hill, which comprises a large part of the state's area but less than 1% of its population, uses numbers beginning with the prefix (08) 80xx,[2] and Wodonga, which is located in Victoria but falls under the jurisdiction of the New South Wales (02) area code. Both of these regions are notable. Similarly, New South Wales border towns such as Deniliquin and Buronga are included in the 03 area code for the South East of Victoria. It is possible to assign one or more prefixes to a physical exchange, and current technology makes it possible for sub-sets of these number ranges to be assigned to switching entities that are physically located at a distance from the exchange in which their controlling terminal is located. (As a result, the definition of what exactly a "telephone exchange" is can be somewhat hazy at times. )

Landlines use an open dialling plan, which means that the area code may be skipped in certain circumstances. One of these scenarios is when the caller's phone and the called phone have the same area code. For instance, if the caller dials only 7010 1111, a call placed from the number (02) 5551 5678 to the number (02) 7010 1111 will be connected. Likewise, a person in Melbourne who is calling from a land-line or mobile phone and dials the number 7010 5678 (i e , located in the 03 region) will be connected to the number 03 7010 5678. Because of this, landline phone numbers are frequently listed without the associated area code. Even if the call is not considered a local call (one that is not timed), the area code does not need to be dialed if the calling number and the number being dialed to are both in the same area code.

Despite this, the complete international number must always be dialed because the Australian telephone network has the capability to determine whether the required destination is located within the local area, within a different national area, or internationally, and to switch and charge the call appropriately. However, the full international number must always be dialed. It is therefore strongly recommended that telephone numbers be stored in mobile phones in the form of the full international number, in the event that the owner of the phone is likely to use the phone concerned in an area away from home, either within Australia or internationally. This recommendation applies whether the owner of the phone is likely to use the phone internationally or within Australia.

Mobile phones [ edit ]

04 or 05, the Australian national trunk code, followed by the mobile indicator (4 or 5), and then eight digits, are the format for mobile phone numbers used within Australia. Within Australia, this number is typically written as 04XX XXX XXX, whereas for an international audience, it is written as 61 4XX XXX XXX. It is possible that this format is incorrect; however, it is the result of mobile carriers advertising numbers in such a way as to clearly identify the owning telco prior to the implementation of mobile number portability on September 25, 2001. This portability was introduced on that date. Before the introduction of MNP, mobile operators would typically reserve number ranges in blocks of 04 xy z.

The xy-digit codes, or sometimes xy z-digit codes, are assigned to each network; however, since the introduction of number portability, there is no longer a consistent connection between a mobile phone number and the network that it is associated with.

As part of the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015, the 05 prefix, with the exception of 0550, was set aside for use exclusively by digital mobile phones in the year 2015. Nevertheless, as of the year 2019, no telephone numbers have been assigned to this prefix.

Regardless of the location of the person making the call, mobile phone numbers in Australia must always be dialed using the full 10 digits.

Numbers based on geography [ edit ]

The first few digits of the local number are used to designate specific geographic areas, as follows:

Region 02, the Central-East (02) [ edit ]

• [geo 1] The locations of Armidale, Tamworth, and Northern Tablelands are: 02 37.
• [geo 2] 02 38 Bowral, Crookwell, Goulburn, and Marulan
• [geo 1] 02 39 Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Riverina
• [geo 3] The city of Newcastle on the Lower Hunter (02 40)
• [geo 2] 02 41 Newcastle, Lower Hunter [time]
• 02 42 Wollongong
• Gosford, on the Central Coast, number 02 43.
• 02 44 Batemans Bay, Moruya, Nowra
• 02 45 Windsor, Richmond
• Campbelltown, area code 02-46
• Penrith, in the Blue Mountains (02 47)
• 02 48 Bowral, Crookwell, Goulburn, and Marulan (Marulan not included)
• 0249 Newcastle, Lower Hunter, Newcastle
• 02 50 Albury, Corryong, Wodonga[geo 2]
• [geo 2] 02 51 Canberra, Queanbeyan, and Yass
• [geo 2] 02 52 Canberra, Queanbeyan, and Yass
• 02 53 Bathurst, Orange[geo 3]
• 02 54 Bega, Merimbula, Tathra, Cooma[geo 1]
• 02 55 Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Taree, Lord Howe Island, Muswellbrook[geo 3][geo 4]
• 02 56 Murwillumbah, Grafton, Lismore[geo 3]
• [geo 3] Armidale, Tamworth, and Northern Tablelands are located at coordinates 02 57.
• 02 58 Bourke, Dubbo, Far West[geo 3]
• 02 59 Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Riverina [geo 3]
• 02 60 Albury, Corryong, Wodonga
• [geo 3] 02 61 Canberra, Queanbeyan, and Yass
• 02 62 Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass
• 02 63 Bathurst, Orange, and Cowra Boulevards
• 02 64 Bega, Merimbula, Tathra, Cooma
• Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Taree, Lord Howe Island, and Muswellbrook are included in this route number.
• Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore, and Murwillumbah are included in this route number.
• 02 67 Tamworth, Glen Innes, Armidale, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri, and
• 02 68 Bourke, Dubbo, Cobar
• 02 69 Griffith, Wagga Wagga, and Riverina, Australia
• 02 7 Sydney[geo 2][geo 4]
• 02 8 Sydney [geo 3]
• 02 9 Sydney

Region located in the south-east (03) [ edit ]

• 03 32 Geelong, Colac[geo 1]
• 03 33 Ballarat[geo 1]
• 03 34 Bendigo[geo 1]
• 03 40 Mildura, Balranald[geo 3]
• 03 41 Traralgon, Bairnsdale[geo 2]
• 03 42 Geelong, Colac [geo 2]
• 03 43 Ballarat[geo 3]
• 03 44 Bendigo[geo 3]
• [geo 2] Warrnambool at 3.45 a.m.
• 03 47 Wangaratta[geo 3]
• 03 48 Deniliquin, Numurkah, Shepparton[geo 2]
• 03 49 Mornington [geo 3]
• 03 50 Mildura, Balranald
• 03 51 Traralgon, Bairnsdale
• Colac, Geelong (03 52)
• 03 53 Ballarat
• 03 54 Bendigo
• Warrnambool, Casterton, and Portland are all located in [geo 4].
• Wonthaggi, Drouin, Foster, and Warragul are included in this number.
• 03 57 Wangaratta
• 03 58 Deniliquin, Shepparton
• 03 59 Mornington, Pakenham, Rosebud, Warburton, Yarra Ranges
• 03 61 Hobart[geo 3]
• 03 62 Hobart
• 03 63 Launceston
• 03 64 Devonport, Burnie, Queenstown
• 03 65 Devonport, Burnie, Queenstown[geo 2]
• 03 67 Launceston[geo 2]
• 03 7 Melbourne[geo 2][geo 4]
• 03 8 Melbourne[geo 3]
• 03 9 Melbourne

Area located to the north-east (7) [ edit ]

• 07 2 Brisbane, Bribie Island[geo 2]
• 07 3 Brisbane, Bribie Island
• 07:40 Cairns, North Queensland, Australia
• Maryborough, Kingaroy, and Bundaberg at 7:41 a.m.
• 07 42 Cairns[geo 3]
• 07 43 Bundaberg, Kingaroy[geo 2]
• Townsville, located in North Queensland (geo 3), at 7:44 a.m.
• Toowoomba, Roma, and south-west (geo 3) at 7:45 a.m.
• Toowoomba, Roma, and South West are located at 7:46.
• Townsville, located in North Queensland at 07:47
• 07 48 Rockhampton, Mackay[geo 3]
• 07 49 Rockhampton, Mackay, Gladstone
• [geo 2] 07 52 Sunshine Coast, Esk, Nambour, Gatton, and Caboolture
• [geo 3] 07 53 Sunshine Coast, Esk, Nambour, Gatton, and Caboolture
• 07 54 Sunshine Coast, Esk, Nambour, Gatton, and Caboolture.
• Gold Coast, Tweed Heads (NSW), and Beaudesert (geo 4) at 7:55 a.m.
• 07 56 Gold Coast, Beaudesert[geo 3]
• 07 57 Gold Coast, Beaudesert[geo 2]
• 07 70 Cairns, in the Northern Territory of Queensland (Geo 1 and Geo 4)
• 07 75 Inglewood, Toowoomba[geo 1]
• 07 76 Inglewood, Toowoomba[geo 2]
• [geo 1] 07 77 Townsville, located in North Queensland
• 07 79 Rockhampton, Mackay, Gladstone[geo 1]

Central as well as Western region (08) [ edit ]

• Riverland and the Murraylands [geo 1] at 08:25
• 08 26 Ceduna[geo 1]
• 08 51 Port Hedland[geo 2]
• 08 52 Perth[geo 2]
• 08 53 Perth[geo 2]
• 08 54 Perth[geo 2]
• 08 55 Bullsbrook East, Northam, Pinjarra (Mandurah), [geo 1], [geo 4] [geo 5]
• 08 58 Albany[geo 1]
• 08 60 Kalgoorlie, Merredin, Goldfields-Esperance[geo 3]
• 08 61 Perth[geo 3]
• 08 62 Perth[geo 3]
• 08 63 Perth[geo 3]
• 08 64 Perth[geo 3]
• 08 65 Perth[geo 3]
• 08 66 Moora[geo 2]
• Bridgetown and Bunbury are both located in [geo 2].
• 08 68 Albany[geo 3]
• 08 69 Geraldton[geo 1]
• 08 70 Adelaide[geo 3][geo 4]
• 08 71 Adelaide[geo 3]
• 08 72 Adelaide[geo 3]
• 08 73 Adelaide[geo 3]
• 08 74 Adelaide[geo 3]
• Riverland and the Murraylands (geo 3) at 08:75.
• 08 76 Ceduna[geo 3]
• [geo 2] At 08:77 degrees south and east.
• 08 78 [geo 2] The Middle of the North
• 08 79 Alice Springs, Darwin, and the rest of the Northern Territory [geo 3]
• 08 80 Broken Hill (NSW)
• 08 81 Adelaide[geo 3]
• 08 82 Adelaide
• 08 83 Adelaide
• 08 84 Adelaide
• Riverland, Murraylands Reference number: 085
• 08 86 Ceduna
• 87 degrees to the south-east
• 08 88 Middle of the North
• 08 89 Alice Springs, Darwin, and the rest of the Northern Territory
• 08 90 Kalgoorlie
• 08 91 Derby [inc] [Tel.] Christmas Island, as well as Cocos (Keeling) Islands ]
• 08 92 Perth
• 08 93 Perth
• 08 94 Perth
• The number 08 95 will get you to Bullsbrook East, Northam, and Pinjarra (Mandurah).
• 08 96 Moora
• 08 97 Bunbury, Busselton, Bridgetown, Collie, and Harvey.
• 08 98 Albany
• 08 99 Geraldton

Notes [ edit ]

Numbers that are not based on geography [ edit ]

Numbers for mobile phones (04 and 05) [ edit ]

The following is a listing of the number blocks that have been allotted to each mobile phone company. However, the portability of mobile phone numbers implies that a particular number could have been "ported." There are also a great number of MVNOs that obtain their phone numbers from their respective wholesalers or may have their own ranges.

In 2017, when the "04" range was anticipated to be depleted, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) intended to start issuing mobile numbers in the "05" range. [5] To this day, there has been no mention of numbers of this kind.

Distribution of the numbers between 04xy z00 000 and 04xy z99 999 y 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 040yz Telstra Optus Vodafone Telstra 041yz Vodafone Optus Vodafone Telstra 042yz * Vodafone Optus Vodafone Telstra 043yz Vodafone Optus Vodafone Optus Telstra 044yz Spare T * Spare Telstra Vodafone 045yz Vodafone Spare Telstra 046yz Telstra Spare Optus Telstra Optus Lycamobile 047yz Lycamobile Spare Telstra Optus 048yz T Spare Optus Spare Telstra Spare Telstra P T * * P 049yz Telstra * Telstra Spare Telstra *The distribution of numerical values within these ranges Multi Range Provider 04200 0420 000 000 – 0420 019 999 RailCorp 0420 020 000 – 0420 029 999 Dialogue Communications Pty Limited is an Australian company. 0420 030 000 – 0420 039 999 The Symbio Network, a Pty. Ltd. Company 0420 040 000 – 0420 089 999 Spare 0420 090 000 – 0420 099 999 CLX 04201 0420 100 000 – 0420 109 999 Pivotel Satellite Pty Ltd 0420 110 000 – 0420 119 999 The COMPATEL Limited Company 0420 120 000 – 0420 199 999 Spare 04445 0444 500 000 – 0444 599 999 MBLOX 04888 0488 800 000 – 0488 899 999 The above "P" abbreviation refers to Pivotel. 04890 0489 000 000 – 0489 099 999 The Novatel Telephony Public Company Limited 04898 0489 800 000 – 0489 839 999 Spare 0489 840 000 – 0489 849 999 VicTrack 0489 850 000 – 0489 899 999 Spare 04899 0489 900 000 – 0489 999 999 The above "P" abbreviation refers to Pivotel. 04915 0491 500 000 – 0491 519 999 Messagebird 0491 520 000 – 0491 569 999 Spare 0491 570 000 – 0491 579 999 The Australian Authority for Communications and Media 0491 580 000 – 0491 599 999 Spare

For fictitious purposes only, the telephone numbers 0491 570 156, 0491 570 157, 0491 570 158, 0491 570 159, and 0491 570 110 have been set aside. [6]

Telephone numbers for satellites (014) [ edit ]

The vast majority of satellite-related phone calls are made using numbers beginning with 014. AMPS mobile phone access codes consisting of nine digits used to be denoted by portions of the 014 prefix in the past.

The nine-digit ITERRA satellite phone code, 0071 xxxxx, has been upgraded to ten-digits, with the 01471 prefix serving as the replacement for the first three digits. Before it was put to use for ITERRA (and various other satellite services), this facility These particular numbers were assigned back in March of 1999.

In Australia, services that are provided through the Optus network are assigned the 0145xxxxxx number range. MobileSat and Thuraya, which are both mobile satellite service providers, make the most use of this. In December of 1992, these numbers were allotted: 222,000, with the remaining allotment designated as "spare."

Satellite systems are designated to use the prefixes 0141 through 0147, and the remainder of the 014 prefix range is not currently assigned to any other kind of service. Because there is not a significant amount of demand for these services and because many satellite phones now have regular mobile phone numbers that begin with the prefix 04, it is highly unlikely that the entire 014 range will be allocated to satellite services.

Location independent communications service (0550) [ edit ]

These numbers are intended to be used with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, where they function similarly to a fixed number but are not assigned based on a user's location. Because LICS numbers and mobile phone numbers share many features, it is possible that LICS numbers will one day be absorbed into mobile phone numbers. In point of fact, the variation of the numbering plan implemented in July 2012 assigned the remaining numbers in the 05 range to digital mobile numbering. [7]

Data numbers (0198) [ edit ]

All calls made to 0198 numbers, which are used for Internet service provider access numbers, are charged at the same "local call" rate as calls made to 13 and 1300 numbers. ISDN and dial-up modems are both able to make use of these components.

Obsolete numbers [ edit ]

The vast majority of numbers that are not currently in use have been eliminated from the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015, either through earlier iterations or through this comprehensive overhaul. (For examples, see below)

Nevertheless, the 0163 prefix will continue to be reserved for use with pagers. This was brought down from the previous numbering plan's 016 in a variation on that plan. Only 1000 numbers had been allotted as of the beginning of March 2011, and by the end of 2012, there were none left to be allotted.

Non-geographic numbers (for use within the United States) [ edit ]

The following area codes are typically not dialable from international points, but are utilized when dialing within the United States:

• 000 is the emergency number (for police, fire, and ambulance service).
• TTY (teletypewriter) emergency (for those who are deaf or hard of hearing) 106
• 11 – Volunteer and charitable work in the community
  • 1100 – Dial Before You Dig (to avoid accidentally causing damage to underground cables or other infrastructure)
  • Access to alternative emergency services (police, fire, and ambulance; only dialable from GSM mobile phones) is provided by the number 112.
  • 119x – Services related to information (e g 1194 was the time, which will no longer be available as of October 1, 2019, and 1196 was the weather, which will also no longer be available as of that date.
• 12 - Services related to networks
  • 1221 – Service international de rapportage des défaillances
  • 1222 – Call costs and enquiries service
  • 1223 - Help finding something in the directory
  • 1225 - Assistance with directories on a global scale
  • 123x is an abbreviation for premium operator services (e. g Sensis personal assistance is available at 1234.
  • Other services provided by the operator (e.g., g Sensis Call Connect can be reached at 12456.
  • 125xxx – Telstra mobile services (e g Telstra Mobile Customer Service can be reached at 125111.
  • Internal network services 1268x, 1268 xxxx, and 1268 xxx xxx are designated by these numbers.
  • 127 is the number for the test (e g 12722123 reads your number from a Telstra line, while 12723123 reads your number from an Optus line) (length varies). Dial 12722199, then hang up, and the call will be returned by the exchange (used to test handset functionality).
  • Caller identification service, number 1282
  • 128xx is a service for caller identification.
• "Local Rate" calls are made using the numbers 13 xx xx and 1300 xxx xx, with the exception of users of VoIP and mobile phones.
• 1345 xxxx is the local rate, and it is the only number that can be dialed for back-to-base monitored alarm systems.
• 14xx – Carrier override prefixes (e g The override prefix for the Telstra network is 1411; for further information, please see below.
• 180 xxxx and 1800 xxx xxx – FreeCall
• 183x – Caller identification override prefixes (1831 prevents sending of caller id, whereas 1832 enables sending of caller id)
• 188 xxxx is a premium SMS number, which has since been moved to the 19 range.
• Calling card service is available at extension 189 xx.
• 19 xx xx and 19xx xxxx – Premium SMS
• Premium rate services, typically offered between the years 1902 and 1900. 190x xxx xxx

Some notes:

• These telephone numbers do not begin with the (0) that denotes a trunk access code.
• It is believed that the 106 number was the first TTY emergency service to be provided on a nationwide scale anywhere in the world.
• 13 xx xx, 1300 xxx xxx, and 1800 xxx xxx numbers are all capable of providing source-based routing. This service is utilized by businesses such as pizza chains that advertise one number across the country that directs customers to the location of the store closest to them.
• The vast majority of FreeCall numbers in circulation are those starting with 1800, though there are some organizations that stick to the 7-digit format. [8]
• You can call some of these numbers even if you're calling from outside of Australia. It is the responsibility of each individual owner to ensure that this is configured properly (at least for 13 and 18 numbers). g 61 13x xxx)
• Due to the fact that the prefix 911x has already been assigned to landlines in the current numbering plan, the 911 call will not be redirected to the triple zero. When dialed from a mobile phone, the number 911 might forward to 000 instead of 112, but doing so is not recommended because familiarity with both numbers can lead to confusion.

The numbers for the emergency services are: 000, 106, and 112. [ edit ]

In Australia, the primary telephone number for use in an emergency is 000. The secondary emergency number is 106, which can be accessed by those who are hearing impaired and have access to a TTY terminal. The international emergency number for GSM mobile phones is 112.

There is a greater chance of individuals in Australia being confused about which number to call in the event of an emergency as a result of increased awareness of the 112 emergency number. The availability of the secondary emergency number 112 is not guaranteed to be present across all communication channels; in particular, it is not present on landlines. [10] In order to promote the use of the 000 emergency number, mobile phones that are imported into Australia for commercial use are required to be pre-programmed to handle the 000 emergency number in the same way as 112 (i). e dialing with key lock enabled, using any carrier, preferential routing, and other features like these are also available. ) [11] With regard to previously owned or privately imported (e g roaming from another country) telephones that are numbered 000 might not get such preferential treatment.

Numbers (13 and 180) with a local rate and numbers that are free to call. [ edit ]

The free call prefix in Australia is 1800, and 10-digit freecall numbers begin with that. This is very similar to the North American or NANPA prefix 1–800, but in North America, the 1 is the long-distance or toll prefix and 800 is the area code, while in Australia, 1800 is itself a "virtual area code" (prior to the introduction of 8-digit numbers). In other words, in North America, the 1 is the long-distance or toll prefix and 800 is the area code. 008 was the free call code, if you needed it. There are also seven-digit freecall numbers that start with 180, but the only numbers that have been allocated so far start with 1802.

Local Rate Numbers, also referred to as SmartNumbers, include the 13 and 1300 areas codes. [12] In addition to these names, these numbers are also referred to as priority 13 and priority 1300. These work across large areas (potentially the entirety of Australia) and charge the caller only a low cost, while simultaneously routing the call to the appropriate place in a given area. For instance, a company could have the number 139999 and ask the telephone company to configure it in such a way that calls made in Melbourne would route to their Melbourne number, calls made in Brisbane would route to their Brisbane number, and calls made anywhere else in Australia would route to their Sydney number. In this scenario, the company would be able to receive calls made in Melbourne, Brisbane, and anywhere else in Australia. all at the caller's expense in the form of a local charge. Before the implementation of the current 8-digit local numbering plan, there was a lack of availability for the number 13. Connecting to a "1300" number is common practice for companies that want to focus on local customers. It is important to note that these numbers are referred to as "Local Rate" numbers rather than "Local" numbers, which indicates that they do not necessarily cost the same as a call to a local number. In fact, many phone plans (both landline and mobile) do not even include them in the "included" credit and/or charge them at a higher rate than "normal" numbers.

Despite being advertised as having a "local call rate," calls to 13 and 1300 numbers cost more than a local call fee for people who use VoIP and have all local and national calls free. [source: missing citation]

There are reverse charge networks for the 1800, 1300, and 13 numbers. Other than the difference in length, the main distinction between a 13 number and a 1300 number is that the shorter number carries a higher fee for the owner of the number, while the caller should not experience a difference in the amount that it costs to reach either number. There is no charge for making calls to 1800 numbers from landlines and, as of 2014, mobile phones as well. [13] The way in which 13 and 1300 numbers are charged varies according to the mobile plan that a person has. While all plans no longer include a charge for 1800 numbers, 13 and 1300 may still be charged at a high rate or be considered outside included calls.

These numbers can be "forwarded" to a landline or cellular location. Depending on the plan and the location of the call, the recipient is typically charged a predetermined amount per second for each call.

Number 19 is a premium number. [ edit ]

Premium rate services, such as e-mail, have the prefix 190x, which should not be confused with the number 0198. g recorded information, competition lines, psychics, phone sex, and other services are all available via phone. ) (Before the introduction of local numbers with eight digits, the prefix was 0055.) 190 numbers are subject to a fee, which is determined by the service provider and can be a per-minute charge (with a maximum cap of $5) 50 on a per-minute basis or a flat rate (up to $38 per hour) 50 per call) The latter approach is the one that is utilized most frequently for fax-back services, which do not lend themselves well to a timed charge. In addition, the costs of 190 calls for competitions that involve chance are frequently capped at zero dollars by state legislation. 55 per call (Under the previous numbering system, 0055 numbers could only be assigned to one of three rate bands: Premium Rate, Value Rate, or Budget Rate, with per-minute rates starting at $0. 75, $0 60 and $0 40 each correspondingly )

Text messaging services at a premium rate are provided by other numbers beginning with 19. These were first tested out using the 188 prefix in the beginning. These can range anywhere from the cost of a standard SMS message (typically 25 cents), which can go as high as 55 cents when used for competitions, to several dollars when used for other purposes, such as unique bid auctions.

International access [ edit ]

The most common prefix used internationally is 0011. (E 164 international format is supported on telephones that have the capability to dial the symbol " " [14])

There are additional codes that can be used when utilizing a carrier that is not the default or a special plan:

• 0014 will go through the Primus network to get to its destination.
• The call with number 0018 will go through the Telstra network.
• 0019 will travel over the Optus network to complete its journey.

In the past, 0015 would route through Telstra on a unique mode reserved exclusively for international faxing. This code has been retired by Telstra.

In today's world, not only are carrier selection codes (14xx) in use, but carrier pre-selection is also very common.

Carrier selection codes [ edit ]

These four-digit numbers must be dialed before the number of the destination in order for a call to be completed and billed by a carrier that is not the subscriber's service provider. For instance, if a subscriber wanted to call a number in Tokyo, Japan using AAPT, they would dial 1414 0011 81 3 xxxx xxxx; if they wanted to use Optus, they would dial 1456 08 xxxx xxxx; and if they wanted to call a number in Perth, they would dial 1456 08 xxxx xxxx. It is not entirely clear that all of these prefixes will in fact be useful. There are some companies that do not have interconnect agreements with one another.

• 1410 – Telstra
• 1411 – Telstra
• TPG (Was Chime) in the year 1412
• 1413 – Telstra
• TPG (formerly known as AAPT) at 1414.
• 1415 – Vodafone
• 1422 – Premier Technologies
• 1423: TPG (formerly known as Soul Pattinson) is born.
• 1428 – Verizon Australia
• 1431 - Vodafone Hutchison Corporation
• The 1434th entry is Symbio Networks.
• 1441: TPG (who formerly went by Soul Pattinson) is born.
• 1447 - The TransACT Act
• 1450 – Pivotel
• 1455 – Netsip
• 1456 – Optus
• TPG (Was Agile) was founded in 1464.
• 1466 – Primus
• 1468 – Telpacific
• 1469 – Lycamobile
• 1474 – Powertel
• 1477 – Vocus
• 1488 – Symbio Networks
• 1499 – VIRTUTEL

Supplementary control services [ edit ]

• 1831 – Prevent the sending of Caller ID information
• 1832 – Remove the block on sending Caller ID.

Other numerical and alphanumeric codes [ edit ]

Test numbers [ edit ]

• Telstra Landline Test numbers
  • Play back the most recent landline number that was connected to or is currently active (add 1832 to the beginning for private numbers).
  • The current landline number can be reached by dialing 12722199.
• Test numbers for the payphones at Telstra
  • 12722101: It will only cost one penny for each metering pulse.
  • 0488076353 is a number that will test the phone's SMS functionality.
• Optus landline test numbers
  • Playback of the most recent landline number dialed or the current landline number
  • The current landline number can be reached by dialing 1272399.
• Other subscribers, including providers of VoIP service, among others
  • Play the current landline number or the one that was most recently connected by dialing 1800801920.
• Other
  • 12711 is the current name of the long-distance carrier.

Historically significant numbering schemes [ edit ]

2010s [ edit ]

In the version of the Telecommunications Numbering Plan that was released in 2015, whether it was the replacement version or an earlier variation, a large number of previously used numbers were finally and officially retired.

• The 018 AMPS phone numbers have been eliminated entirely.
• Personal Numbers beginning with 0500 have been eliminated.
• Prefixes that aren't being used, like 114 for the mass calling service, are getting removed.

1990s [ edit ]

Prior to 1999, numbers beginning with 0055 were reserved for customers paying a premium, but they were changed to begin with 190 in that year.

The toll-free area code was originally 008, but it was changed to 1800 when the format was changed.

There were several numbers that were used for directory assistance: 013 for local calls, 0175 for other national calls, and 0103 for international calls. The two local numbers have been replaced with the number 1223, and the 0103 number has been replaced with the number 1225. Depending on the carrier, there may be other options for directory assistance phone numbers, many of which include a call connection option.

011 was the code for the operator when it was first introduced, but later on, 0011 became the international exit code.

014 was the number for the time at its inception, but it was later changed to 1104; in 1976, it was changed to 1194.

When calling from a public telephone, 0176 was the original access code for the operator. It was changed to become the code for the operator of the reverse-charge call, which was moved to 12550. There are also third-party companies available as an alternative. See the entry for Collect call under Australia

1960s [ edit ]

The maximum number of digits that could be included in an Australian telephone number was six up until this point.

In metropolitan areas prior to the early 1960s, the first one or two digits of telephone numbers were written out in alphabetical order, with each letter standing for a different number on the telephone dial. Each one-letter or two-letter code represented a different exchange within a metropolitan region. Because manual exchanges were more common in rural and regional areas, and because there was typically only one automatic exchange serving an entire town, rural and regional phone numbers did not have these letter prefixes. When such things were not as common, it was easier to remember a string of letters and numbers than a string of digits, so the use of a letter-number combination was used as a memory aid because it was easier to remember.

In contrast to the UK Director telephone system, which was used in London and other large British cities, the telephone dials in Australia had letters associated with all ten of the available digits, rather than the three (or fewer) letters that were associated with each number on the dials of telephones in the UK Director telephone system. where each of these letters was selected because their "name" (when pronounced, in English) could not be confused with any of the other nine letters of the English/Latin alphabet that were also used. This was done so that the cipher could be used to create a secret code.

Because the initial digits of one and zero, which represent the number ten, were not used, this allowed the telephone company in question to have up to eight regions with main exchanges and up to ten sub-exchanges in each metropolitan area. This brought the total number of individual exchanges that could be used by the company to up to 80, each of which contained ten telephones. 000 numbers in each, with a maximum of 800,000 unique "numbers" in any metropolitan area that is the focus of this discussion. Because of this restricted capacity, a numbering system with seven or eight digits was required so that more "numbers" could be accommodated within a specific area.

As a result of the expansion of the country's telephone network, each of Australia's four regions now has telephone numbers that consist of eight digits.

This previous alphabetic scheme was very different from the system that is currently used for SMS messages.

The following is what the previous alphabetic system was:

• A = 1;
• B = 2;
• F = 3;
• J = 4;
• L = 5;
• M = 6;
• U = 7;
• W = 8;
• X = 9;
• Y = 0

There was no connection between the letters and any exchange name. For instance, the exchange prefix for Essendon was "FU," which translated to "37," and later became the 37x [then 937x] exchange that was utilized by the entirety of the City of Essendon (which subsequently changed its name to the City of Moonee Valley in late 1994). Despite the fact that the city of Melbourne's numbering system began with 6, it was extremely uncommon, and most likely unintentional, for any other exchanges to have matching letters. The old alphanumeric system called for the letters ab to represent the numbers. xxxx, such as MW 5550 (685550) or FU 1234 (although the actual string of digits that was transmitted to the phone was "371234") As early as the year 1960, seven-digit numbers began to appear, and they were all numerical right from the beginning. As late as 1989, there were still some six-digit numbers and at least one five-digit number in Melbourne, but by the 1990s, they had all been converted to seven-digit numbers. Some six-digit numbers and at least one five-digit number existed in Melbourne as late as 1989. Six-digit numbers with the exchange code 68 were in use in Footscray up until 1987, when they were replaced by either 687 or 689.

The previous call back number was 199, and it could be dialed from private numbers as well as public payphones. The previous number, 12722199, has been assigned to this.

See also [ edit ]

• Previous dialing codes for use in Australia
• The Australian telecommunications industry

References [ edit ]

External links [ edit ]