The area code +1 246 is a composite part of the telephone numbering plan for Barbados, also known as the National Numbering Plan. 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.
Contents
- History
- Dialing within Barbados
- General
- Central Office Codes
- Mobile operators
- VoIP providers
- Geographic
- References
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. 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.
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. By 15 January 1997 all calls placed to Barbados required the use of the prefix +1 246 prefix.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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: 0Central 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.
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. In most cases Barbados numbers beginning with the following central office codes do not permit incoming collect calls.
VoIP providers
310 - 359Geographic
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