French Guiana Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of French Guiana's phone numbering system, essential for developers building telecommunication applications or integrating with local services. We'll cover number formats, validation techniques, portability, and best practices for ensuring compliance with regulations set by ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes), the French regulatory authority.

Numbering Plan Overview

French Guiana's telecommunications landscape integrates seamlessly with French national standards while addressing the specific needs of this overseas department. Understanding the different number categories is crucial for accurate routing and service integration.

Geographic Numbers (Fixed Lines)

Fixed-line numbers in French Guiana are identified by the 0594 prefix. These numbers are geographically based and subject to stringent quality controls enforced by ARCEP.

• Format: 0594 XX XX XX
• Example: 0594 30 12 34
• International Format: +594 594 30 12 34

ARCEP's quality monitoring includes:

• Service Availability: Continuous monitoring to ensure consistent service.
• Performance Audits: Regular quarterly audits to assess network performance.
• Geographic Coverage Verification: Ensuring advertised coverage aligns with actual service availability.
• Service Quality Metrics: Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to call quality, connection times, and other relevant metrics.

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in French Guiana use the 0694 prefix. This sector is the most dynamic in the region, with evolving network infrastructure and services.

• Format: 0694 XX XX XX

• Example: 0694 60 78 90

• International Format: +594 694 60 78 90

• Network Coverage: French Guiana benefits from a unified telecommunications infrastructure across the French West Indies, including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy. Coverage varies by location:

  • Urban Areas: Generally excellent 4G/4G+ coverage.
  • Rural Regions: Primarily 2G/3G coverage, with ongoing expansion of 4G.
  • Coastal Zones: Enhanced connectivity to support maritime communication.
  • Coverage Maps: Detailed coverage information is available through resources like nPerf (https://www.nperf.com/en/map/GF/-/-./signal).

• Service Integration: Mobile services include:

  • Voice: Standard GSM protocols.
  • Data: LTE/4G networks.
  • SMS: International messaging support.
  • Roaming: Seamless integration with French metropolitan networks.

Special Purpose Numbers

French Guiana utilizes dedicated number ranges for specific services:

• Toll-Free Services (0800): Used for business contact centers, government helplines, emergency support, and public information lines.
• Premium Rate Services (089X): These numbers carry higher charges, ranging from €0.15 to €1.50 per minute, depending on the specific prefix (0890-0899). Transparency in pricing is crucial for these services.
• Emergency Services (112): This number connects to a sophisticated emergency response system with features like automatic location identification, multi-language support, priority network routing, and integrated response coordination.

Implementation Guidelines

Developers integrating with French Guiana's telecommunications infrastructure should adhere to these guidelines:

Number Validation

Use regular expressions to validate phone numbers:

// Regular expression for French Guiana numbers
const geoNumberPattern = /^(?:0|\+594)?594\d{6}$/;
const mobilePattern = /^(?:0|\+594)?694\d{6}$/;

Format Standardization

Store and process numbers in the international E.164 format (+594 XXXXXXXXX) for consistency and interoperability.

def standardize_number(phone_number):
    """Standardizes French Guiana phone numbers to international format."""
    cleaned = re.sub(r'\D', '', phone_number)  # Remove non-numeric characters
    return '+594' + cleaned[1:] if cleaned.startswith('0') else cleaned

Network Interoperability

Ensure your system supports:

• Cross-Carrier Routing: Implement protocols for routing calls and messages between different operators.
• Number Portability: Integrate with number portability databases to handle number changes seamlessly.
• International Dialing Formats: Support various international dialing formats.
• Emergency Service Routing: Prioritize emergency calls (112) and ensure proper routing.

Number Portability

Number portability allows subscribers to retain their numbers when switching providers. ARCEP manages this process, which has a maximum processing time of 10 days. Service interruption should be minimal (typically under 4 hours).

RIO Code

The RIO (Relevé d'Identité Opérateur) code is essential for number portability. It's a unique 12-character identifier: PP-YYYYMMDD-NNNNN (PP = Provider Code, YYYYMMDD = Issue Date, NNNNN = Unique Identifier). The RIO is valid for 30 days.

Implementation Workflow

1. Request: The subscriber requests the RIO code from their current provider.
2. Validation: The new provider validates the RIO and checks number eligibility.
3. Execution: Providers coordinate the technical migration of the number.

Technical Implementation

• E.164 Format: Use the E.164 format for all numbers.
• Validations: Implement RIO validation, number format validation, and eligibility checks.
• Integration: Integrate with secure RIO verification endpoints and create status monitoring interfaces.
• Error Handling: Implement robust error handling for invalid RIOs, expired codes, and technical incompatibilities.

Regulatory Compliance

Operators must comply with ARCEP's regulations, including statistical reporting, service level agreements (SLAs), and documentation requirements. Refer to the official ARCEP documentation (https://www.arcep.fr/) for the latest information.

This guide provides a solid foundation for understanding and working with French Guiana's phone numbering system. By following these best practices and staying informed about regulatory updates, you can ensure your applications are compliant and provide a seamless experience for users.