Comprehensive Guide to Sierra Leone Phone Numbers

Quick Reference

• Country: Sierra Leone
• Country Code: +232
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0

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Overview

Discover the intricacies of Sierra Leone's telephone numbering system. This guide outlines number formats, dialing procedures, and telecom operator allocations, providing essential knowledge for telecom professionals, developers, and system administrators.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Sierra Leone's phone numbers differ based on service type, such as landline, mobile, and special services. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Type	Format	Example
Landline Numbers	22[2-4][2-9]X{4}	2222442934
Mobile Numbers	25X{6} 3[0-5]X{6} 66X{6} 7[2-9]X{6} 8[08]X{6} 9[09]X{6}	2530056 3098765 6601234
Special Services	[Research needed]	[Research needed]

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

Developers can use these regex patterns to validate Sierra Leonean phone numbers:

• Landline Numbers:
  ^22[2-4][2-9]\d{4}$
  

• Mobile Numbers:
  ^(25\d{6}|3[0-5]\d{6}|66\d{6}|7[2-9]\d{6}|8[08]\d{6}|9[09]\d{6})$
  

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Dialing

• Landline to Landline: Dial the full 7-digit number, e.g., 2222442934.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly, e.g., 3098765.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the mobile number directly, e.g., 6601234.

International Dialing

• Outgoing International Calls: Dial 00, followed by the country code and number. For example, to call the UK: 00 44 xxxx xxxxxx.
• Incoming International Calls: Use +232, followed by the local number without the leading 0. For instance, +232 3098765.

Telecom Operators and Number Allocation

Sierra Leone's telecom sector is regulated by the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM). Major operators and their number ranges include:

Operator	Number Range
Orange Sierra Leone	25XXXXXX, 76XXXXXX, 77XXXXXX
Africell	30XXXXXX, 31XXXXXX, 99XXXXXX
QCell	80XXXXXX, 81XXXXXX
SierraTel	22XXXXXX (Landline)

Number Portability

Currently, Sierra Leone does not support mobile number portability, meaning subscribers cannot retain their numbers when switching operators.

ITU-T Recommendations

Sierra Leone follows ITU-T E.164 standards for international numbering, ensuring global compatibility and efficient international dialing.

Number Allocation and Management

Number allocation is managed by NATCOM, which assigns ranges to operators and ensures compliance with national and international regulations.

Technical Considerations

For Developers

When integrating Sierra Leonean phone numbers, consider:

• Validation: Use the provided regex for validation.
• Formatting: Store international numbers in E.164 format, e.g., +2323098765.
• Dialing Logic: Implement logic for both domestic and international dialing.

Special Cases

• Golden Numbers: Information on premium numbers is not publicly available.
• Number Blocking: No specific policies are detailed by NATCOM.

Conclusion

Understanding Sierra Leone's phone number structure and regulations is crucial for effective communication and system integration. This guide offers the technical insights needed to manage Sierra Leonean phone numbers efficiently.