What is the country code for the Bahamas?

The country code for the Bahamas is +1, as it is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

How are phone numbers structured in the Bahamas?

Phone numbers in the Bahamas follow the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) format, consisting of a 3-digit area code (242) followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. The general format is +1-242-NXX-XXXX.

What are the dialing procedures for making international calls to the Bahamas?

To make an international call to the Bahamas, you need to dial the international prefix (e.g., 011 from the US), followed by the country code +1, the area code 242, and the 7-digit local number.

Is number portability available in the Bahamas?

Yes, mobile number portability has been available in the Bahamas since December 2013, allowing users to retain their mobile numbers when switching between service providers.

Which major telecom operators are active in the Bahamas, and what are their number ranges?

The major telecom operators in the Bahamas are BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company) and ALIV. BTC's number ranges include NXX codes like 302, 364, and 376, while ALIV's number ranges include codes like 357, 359, and 423.

What is the country code for the Bahamas?

The country code for the Bahamas is +1.

How do I make an international call to the Bahamas?

To make an international call to the Bahamas, dial your country's international access code, followed by +1, then 242, and the 7-digit local number.

What is the area code for the Bahamas?

The area code for the Bahamas is 242.

Are Bahamian phone numbers part of the North American Numbering Plan?

Yes, Bahamian phone numbers adhere to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).

How can I dial a toll-free number in the Bahamas?

To dial a toll-free number in the Bahamas, use the format 1-800-[2-9]XX-XXXX.

Is mobile number portability available in the Bahamas?

Yes, mobile number portability has been available in the Bahamas since December 2013.

What should I dial for emergency services in the Bahamas?

For emergency services in the Bahamas, dial 911.

Who regulates phone numbers in the Bahamas?

The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) regulates phone numbers in the Bahamas.

How are Bahamian landline numbers formatted?

Bahamian landline numbers are formatted as 242-[2-9]XX-XXXX.

How are Bahamian mobile numbers formatted?

Bahamian mobile numbers are formatted as 242-[3-9]XX-XXXX.

What prefixes are used for premium rate numbers in the Bahamas?

Premium rate numbers in the Bahamas use the prefix 1-900.

Can I block specific phone numbers in the Bahamas?

There are no specific number blocking schemes enforced by the regulatory authority in the Bahamas.

What is the international dialing prefix for calls from the Bahamas?

The international dialing prefix for calls from the Bahamas is 011.

What are 'golden numbers' and are they available in the Bahamas?

'Golden numbers' are premium numbers that may be available at higher costs, but the Bahamas does not have specific regulations regarding them.

Which telecom operators are major in the Bahamas?

Major telecom operators in the Bahamas include BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company) and ALIV.

How can developers validate Bahamian phone numbers?

Developers can use regular expressions like ^242[2-9]\d{6}$ for geographic numbers to validate Bahamian phone numbers.

What is the national prefix for dialing within the Bahamas?

The national prefix for dialing within the Bahamas is 1.

What is the format for incoming international calls to the Bahamas?

The format for incoming international calls to the Bahamas is +1-242 followed by the 7-digit local number.

How should phone numbers be formatted for international systems?

Phone numbers should be formatted according to the NANP standard, including the country code +1 for international systems.

[Bahamas] Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Quick Reference

Country: Bahamas
Country Code: +1
International Prefix: 011
National Prefix: 1
Regulatory Authority: Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA)
Numbering Plan: North American Numbering Plan (NANP)
ITU-T Recommendations: E.164

Overview

This guide provides a detailed examination of the telephone numbering system in the Bahamas. It includes the structure of phone numbers, dialing procedures, and regulatory guidelines, making it an invaluable resource for telecom professionals, developers, and anyone involved in telecommunications within the Bahamas.

Number Structure

General Number Format

Phone numbers in the Bahamas adhere to the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), shared by 20 countries, including the United States and Canada. The standard format consists of a 3-digit area code followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.

Format: +1 (Country Code) - NPA (Area Code) - NXX-XXXX (Subscriber Number)
Example: +1-242-555-1234

Area Code

Area Code for the Bahamas: 242

Subscriber Number

Subscriber Number Length: 7 digits

Special Prefixes

Toll-Free Numbers: 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833
Premium Rate Numbers: 900
Emergency Numbers: 911

Number Formats

Geographic (Landline) Numbers

Format: 242 [2-9]XX-XXXX
Example: 242-302-1234

^242[2-9]\d{6}$

Mobile Numbers

Format: 242 [3-9]XX-XXXX
Example: 242-357-1234

^242[3-9]\d{6}$

Toll-Free Numbers

Format: 1-800 [2-9]XX-XXXX
Example: 1-800-555-1234

^1(800|888|877|866|855|844|833)[2-9]\d{6}$

Premium Rate Numbers

Format: 1-900 [2-9]XX-XXXX
Example: 1-900-555-1234

^1(900)[2-9]\d{6}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

Landline to Landline: Dial 1 + 242 + 7-digit number.
Landline to Mobile: Dial 1 + 242 + 7-digit number.
Mobile to Mobile: Dial 1 + 242 + 7-digit number.

International Calls

Outgoing: Dial 011 + Country Code + Area Code + Local Number.
Incoming: Dial +1 + 242 + 7-digit number.

Recent Changes to the Numbering Plan

As of the latest update, there have been no recent changes to the numbering plan in the Bahamas. The country continues to follow the NANP structure, and no new area codes or prefixes have been introduced.

Number Portability

Mobile Number Portability: Available since December 2013. Users can retain their mobile numbers when switching between service providers within the Bahamas.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Number Ranges (NXX)
BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company)	302, 364, 376, 424, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, 434, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 509, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999
ALIV	357, 359, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, 434, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 509, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999

Operator

Number Ranges (NXX)

BTC (Bahamas Telecommunications Company)

302, 364, 376, 424, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, 434, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 509, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999

ALIV

357, 359, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, 434, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 509, 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640, 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866, 867, 868, 869, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884, 885, 886, 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, 894, 895, 896, 897, 898, 899, 900, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999

Number Allocation and Management

Regulatory Body: The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is responsible for managing the allocation of telephone numbers in the Bahamas. URCA ensures compliance with the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and ITU-T recommendations.

Technical Restrictions or Special Cases

Golden Numbers: The Bahamas does not have specific regulations regarding "golden numbers." However, premium numbers may be available at higher costs.
Number Blocking: There are no specific number blocking schemes enforced by the regulatory authority.

Technical Considerations for Developers

When working with phone numbers in the Bahamas, developers should consider the following:

Validation: Use regular expressions to validate phone numbers based on the formats provided. For example, use the regex ^242[2-9]\d{6}$ for geographic numbers.
Formatting: Ensure that phone numbers are formatted according to the NANP standard, including the country code when dealing with international systems.
Portability: Implement logic to handle number portability, especially for mobile numbers.
Dialing: Consider the correct dialing procedures for both domestic and international calls, ensuring that applications can handle different scenarios.

For the most up-to-date information on telecommunications regulations in the Bahamas, please consult the official website of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA).

References

Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) - Official Website
North American Numbering Plan Administration (NANPA) - Official Website
ITU-T Recommendation E.164 - ITU Website

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