Phone Numbers In Australia: What's The Format?

is phone number in australia

Australian phone numbers can be confusing, especially when dialling internationally. Australia uses the country code 61, and mobile phone numbers always begin with 04, followed by eight digits. Landlines, on the other hand, use a variable dialling plan, where the area code may be omitted if the caller's phone shares the same area code as the number being dialled. This means that landline numbers are often specified without the area code. When dialling an Australian number internationally, the trunk code (0) is dropped.

Characteristics Values
Landline numbers 2 digits for the area code followed by 8 digits for the rest of the telephone number
Mobile numbers 10 digits (no area code)
International country code 61
National trunk code 0
Mobile indicator 4
Mobile number format 04XX XXX XXX within Australia
Mobile number format (international) +61 4XX XXX XXX
ITERRA satellite phone code 0071
ITERRA satellite phone replacement 01471
Mobile satellite services 0145

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Australian mobile phone numbers

The international format of an Australian mobile phone number can be written as follows: +61-4-1234 5678. Here, the +61 is the international prefix and country code, 4 is the mobile indicator, and 1234 5678 is the local phone number.

When calling an Australian mobile phone number from within Australia, the full 10-digit number must always be dialled, regardless of the caller's location. When dialling a number in another area within Australia, the trunk code 0 must be dialled, followed by the area code and then the local number.

In 2015, the prefix 05 was also reserved for digital mobile phones as part of the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015. Numbers beginning with 014 are predominantly used for satellite services.

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Australian landline numbers

When dialling a landline number within the same area as the caller, the area code can often be omitted. For example, a person dialling '7010 5678' on a landline in Melbourne (area code '03') will be connected to '03 7010 5678'. However, when calling a landline in a different area, the Australian trunk prefix '0' and the area code must be included. So, to call a number in Sydney (area code '02') from Melbourne, one would dial '02 7010 5678'.

The remaining eight digits of the landline number typically consist of a four-digit exchange code and a four-digit local line number. These are usually written in two groups of four digits, such as 'xxxx xxxx'.

When writing Australian landline numbers for an international audience, the international format should be used. This involves including the international prefix, denoted by a '+' symbol, followed by the country code for Australia, which is '61'. So, the international format for the previous example would be '+61 2 7010 5678'.

It is important to note that when dialling an Australian number internationally, the trunk prefix '0' is dropped. So, using the previous example, the number would be dialled as '+61 2 7010 5678', with the leading '0' omitted from the area code.

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International calls to Australian numbers

To make an international call to an Australian number from overseas, you must dial the complete international number.

Australian landline numbers usually have 10 digits, including the area code. The area code is a 2-digit number that indicates the recipient's geographical area within Australia. For example, Sydney's city code is '02'. When dialling an Australian landline number internationally, drop the zero before the area code.

Australian mobile numbers always have 10 digits, with no area code. Mobile numbers begin with the Australian national trunk code '0' followed by the mobile indicator '4'. For international calls to Australian mobiles, drop the initial '0'.

To call Australia from overseas, you need to dial the international prefix, followed by the country code for Australia, then the area code (without the initial '0'), and finally the phone number. The international prefix is usually +' or '00' on most phones, but it can vary depending on your location and phone service provider. The country code for Australia is '61'.

For example, if you are calling a Sydney landline number '02 5550 4321' from the US, you would dial '011-61-2-5550-4321' on your phone. Here, '011' is the exit code, '61' is the country code, '2' is the area code, and '5550 4321' is the local phone number.

If you are calling an Australian mobile number '+61-4-1234-5678', you would dial '+61-4-1234-5678' on your phone, regardless of your location.

There are also services that offer lower rates for international calls to Australian landlines and mobiles, such as KeepCalling.com, which offers rates as low as 1.6 cents per minute.

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Australian area codes

Australian telephone numbers are defined and administered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) under delegation by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

For landline telephony, Australia is geographically divided into four areas, three of which cover more than one state or territory. All local telephone numbers within the four areas have eight digits, consisting of a four-digit exchange code and a four-digit local line number. The national significant number consists of a single-digit area code followed by the local eight-digit number, a total of nine digits.

When dialling a landline number in an area other than that of the caller, the telephone number is preceded by the Australian trunk prefix '0' and the area code. For example, a call from the number 02 5551 5678 to the number '02 7010 1111' would be connected if the caller dials only 7010 1111. This is because landline numbers are often specified without the area code.

Mobile phone numbers in Australia begin with '04', the Australian national trunk code '0', plus the mobile indicator '4', followed by eight digits. This is generally written as 04XX XXX XXX within Australia, or as +61 4XX XXX XXX for an international audience.

When dialling from outside Australia, the country code for Australia, '61', is followed by the nine-digit national significant number. The Australian trunk access code, '0', is not used for calls originated from outside Australia.

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Australian trunk codes

Australia's trunk code is 0. This is the same as most other countries.

When dialling a number in another area within Australia, the trunk code 0 must be dialled, followed by the area code and then the local number. The first four digits of a number in a major centre specify the Call Collection Area (CCA), also known as an exchange, and the remaining digits specify a number at that exchange. To access a number in the same area, only the local eight digits are required.

The trunk code is not used for international calls to Australia. Instead, the international call prefix of the originating country must be dialled, followed by Australia's country code, 61, and then the nine-digit national significant number. For example, a caller from the UK would dial 00 61 7 3333 3333, while a caller from the US would dial 011 61 7 3333 3333.

Within Australia, mobile phone numbers begin with 04 – the Australian national trunk code 0, plus the mobile indicator 4 – followed by eight digits. This is generally written as 04XX XXX XXX within Australia, or as +61 4XX XXX XXX for an international audience.

Frequently asked questions

The international country code for Australia is 61.

To call an Australian mobile number from outside Australia, first dial the international call prefix of the country you are calling from (e.g. 011 from North America or 00 from Europe). Then, dial the country code (61), followed by the mobile phone number, excluding the national trunk code 0. For example, to call the number 0412 345 678, you would dial 00 61 4 1234 5678 from Europe.

To call an Australian landline number from outside Australia, first dial the international call prefix of the country you are calling from (e.g. 011 from North America or 00 from Europe). Then, dial the country code (61), followed by the area code (dropping the initial 0) and the local phone number. For example, to call the number 02 1234 5678, you would dial 00 61 2 1234 5678 from Europe.

To call an Australian mobile number from within Australia, dial the ten-digit mobile number, starting with the national trunk code 0 and the mobile indicator 4. For example, to call the number 0412 345 678, you would dial 04 1234 5678.

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