Check phone number activity, carrier details, line type and more.
Barbados Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide
Quick Facts
Country: Barbados
Country Code: +1 246
International Prefix: 011
National Prefix: 1
Introduction
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the telephone numbering plan in Barbados. This guide is essential for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators who require in-depth knowledge of Barbados' telecommunication system, including number formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory frameworks.
Barbados Phone Number Formats
General Structure
Barbados uses the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), where phone numbers are structured as follows:
Country Code: +1
Area Code: 246 (specific to Barbados)
Subscriber Number: 7 digits
Detailed Number Formats
Type
Format
Example
Description
Geographic
+1 246 [2-9]XX XXXX
+1 246 234 5678
Standard landline numbers.
Mobile
+1 246 [2-9]XX XXXX
+1 246 823 4567
Mobile numbers use the same format as landlines.
Toll-Free
+1 800 [2-9]XX XXXX
+1 800 234 5678
Toll-free services, typically starting with 800.
Premium Rate
+1 900 [2-9]XX XXXX
+1 900 234 5678
Premium-rate services, often used for special services.
Regular Expressions for Validation
To ensure phone numbers conform to the expected structure, use these regular expressions:
^(\+1\s?246\s?[2-9]\d{2}\s?\d{4})$ # General format
^(\+1\s?800\s?[2-9]\d{2}\s?\d{4})$ # Toll-free numbers
^(\+1\s?900\s?[2-9]\d{2}\s?\d{4})$ # Premium-rate numbers
Dialing Procedures in Barbados
Domestic Calls
Landline to Landline: Dial 1 + 7-digit local number.
Landline to Mobile: Dial 1 + 7-digit mobile number.
Mobile to Mobile: Dial 1 + 7-digit mobile number.
Mobile to Landline: Dial 1 + 7-digit local number.
International Calls
Outgoing: Dial 011 + Country Code + Area Code + Subscriber Number.
Incoming: Dial +1 246 + 7-digit local number.
Special Services
Toll-Free: Dial 1 + 800 + 7-digit number.
Premium Rate: Dial 1 + 900 + 7-digit number.
Number Portability
Barbados supports mobile number portability, enabling users to retain their phone numbers when switching service providers. This process is managed by local telecom operators and regulated by the Telecommunications Unit under the Ministry of Transport and Works.
Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges
Operator
Number Ranges
Digicel Barbados
246-2XX-XXXX to 246-9XX-XXXX
FLOW (Cable & Wireless)
246-2XX-XXXX to 246-9XX-XXXX
Note: Specific number ranges are not publicly disclosed and may vary.
ITU-T Standards Compliance
Barbados complies with the following ITU-T recommendations:
E.164: International public telecommunication numbering plan.
E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbers.
Number Allocation and Management
The Telecommunications Unit under the Ministry of Transport and Works oversees phone number allocation and management in Barbados, including number portability and compliance with ITU-T standards.
Technical Restrictions and Special Cases
Golden Numbers: High-demand numbers require special approval and allocation criteria.
Number Blocking: Certain ranges may be blocked for security or regulatory reasons.
Developer Considerations
Normalization: Store phone numbers in E.164 format for consistency.
Validation: Utilize provided regular expressions for input validation.
Portability: Implement checks for number portability to accommodate provider switches.
Number Formatting: Consider internationalization for user display.