Phone Numbers in Burkina Faso: A Technical Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Burkina Faso
• Country Code (CC): +226
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None

Overview

Discover the comprehensive telephone numbering plan of Burkina Faso. This guide covers phone number structures, dialing procedures, and the telecommunications infrastructure, essential for telecom professionals and developers.

Number Structure

General Number Format

Burkina Faso employs a closed numbering plan with 8-digit phone numbers. The initial digit signifies the service type, such as landline or mobile.

• Country Code: +226
• Local Number Format: [2-7]XXXXXXX

Numbering Plan Details

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

To validate Burkina Faso phone numbers, use these regular expressions:

# Landline numbers
^2[0-9]{7}$

# Mobile numbers
^[5-7][0-9]{7}$

# Special services
^8[0-9]{7}$

# Emergency numbers
^(17|18|101)$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Dialing

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit local number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.

International Dialing

• To Burkina Faso: Dial your country’s international access code, Burkina Faso’s country code (+226), and then the 8-digit local number.
• From Burkina Faso: Dial 00, followed by the destination country code, and then the local number.

Example: Dialing from Burkina Faso to a US number: 00 1 555 1234567

Number Portability

Currently, Burkina Faso does not support number portability. Subscribers cannot retain their numbers when switching between telecom operators.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Burkina Faso's telecom market includes several key operators:

Regulatory and Management Information

Regulatory Body

The Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) regulates Burkina Faso's telecom sector. ARCEP manages the numbering plan and ensures compliance with international standards.

ITU-T Recommendations

Burkina Faso follows the ITU-T Recommendation E.164, ensuring global interoperability of its phone numbers.

Number Allocation and Management

ARCEP allocates numbers based on telecom operators' needs, preventing overlap and ensuring efficient use of numbering resources.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and Systems Administrators

• Validation: Use regular expressions for phone number validation.
• Formatting: Include the country code (+226) without leading zeros.
• Storage: Store numbers in E.164 format for consistency.
• Dialing Rules: Implement correct handling of international and domestic prefixes.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: No public information on "golden numbers" allocation.
• Number Blocking: Follow standard telecom procedures for blocking.

Conclusion

Understanding Burkina Faso's telephone numbering plan is crucial for effective communication and system integration. This guide provides the necessary technical details for accurate handling of phone numbers. Always refer to official sources for the latest updates and regulatory information.