This guide offers a thorough exploration of Burundi's telephone numbering plan, detailing phone number structures, dialing procedures, and special considerations for developers and telecom professionals. Whether you're managing telecommunications systems, developing software that handles phone numbers, or conducting business in Burundi, this guide provides the essential information you need.
Number Structure
General Number Format
Burundi phone numbers adhere to the ITU-T E.164 standard, allowing for a maximum of 15 digits, including the country code. The general structure is:
+257 XXXXXXXXX
+257: Country code for Burundi
XXXXXXXXX: Subscriber number (9 digits)
Number Formats by Type
Type
Format
Example
Description
Landline Numbers
22XXXXXXX
223456789
Landline numbers in Burundi typically start with the digit '22' followed by 7 digits.
Mobile Numbers
79XXXXXXX, 71XXXXXXX
791234567
Mobile numbers generally start with '79' or '71' followed by 7 digits.
Toll-Free
800XXXXXX
800123456
Toll-free numbers start with '800' and are followed by 6 digits.
Premium Services
90XXXXXXX
901234567
Premium-rate services start with '90' and are followed by 7 digits.
Regular Expressions for Validation
Use the following regular expressions to validate Burundi phone numbers in your applications:
General Format: ^\+257\d{8,9}$
Landline Numbers: ^22\d{7}$
Mobile Numbers: ^(79|71)\d{7}$
Toll-Free Numbers: ^800\d{6}$
Premium Services: ^90\d{7}$
Dialing Procedures
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial the 9-digit number directly (e.g., 223456789).
Landline to Mobile: Dial the 9-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 791234567).
Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 9-digit mobile number directly (e.g., 791234567).
International Calls
Outgoing: Dial 00 (international prefix), followed by the country code, and then the subscriber number (e.g., 00 1 2025550123 for a call to the USA).
Incoming: Callers from abroad should dial +257 followed by the 9-digit local number (e.g., +257791234567).
Number Portability
As of the latest available data, Burundi does not support mobile number portability (MNP). This means that subscribers cannot retain their phone numbers when switching between mobile service providers.
Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Burundi has several telecom operators, each assigned specific number ranges:
Golden Numbers: These are special numbers that may have a memorable sequence and are often sold at a premium.
Number Blocking: Certain number ranges may be blocked or reserved for special purposes, such as government use or emergency services.
Technical Considerations for Developers
When designing systems that handle Burundi phone numbers, consider the following:
Validation: Use the provided regular expressions to ensure that phone numbers are correctly formatted.
Internationalization: Always store phone numbers in the E.164 format to facilitate international calling and interoperability.
Error Handling: Implement robust error handling for scenarios where a user inputs an invalid or incomplete phone number.
Timezone Awareness: Burundi operates on Central Africa Time (CAT), UTC+2. Ensure your systems account for this when scheduling calls or sending time-sensitive messages.