How are El Salvador phone numbers assigned?

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El Salvador's phone numbering plan is regulated by the Superintendency General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones (SIGET), the country's telecommunications regulatory body. This framework ensures a systematic assignment of numbers to different services and regions, preventing conflicts and facilitating efficient communication across the nation. Understanding this system involves recognizing the country code, the number of digits, and how prefixes are used to differentiate between fixed-line and mobile services, as well as geographical areas.

El Salvador's Numbering Structure
El Salvador uses an eight-digit national significant number (NSN) for both fixed-line and mobile phones. When dialing internationally, the country el-salvador phone number list code for El Salvador is +503. Therefore, a complete international number would be formatted as +503 followed by the eight-digit NSN. Within El Salvador, direct dialing of the eight-digit number is sufficient. Unlike some countries that use distinct area codes for specific cities or regions that are dialed before the local number, El Salvador integrates a form of regional or service identification into the first digit or two of the eight-digit number itself. This streamlined approach simplifies domestic dialing.


For instance, fixed-line numbers typically begin with the digit '2'. Mobile numbers, on the other hand, usually start with '6' or '7'. This clear differentiation at the initial digit allows for immediate identification of the type of service (fixed or mobile) and, in the case of fixed lines, can also indicate a general geographic area. The specific assignments within these initial digits are managed by SIGET to ensure adequate numbering capacity for all service providers and to accommodate future growth in telecommunications services.


Assignment for Fixed-Line and Mobile Services
The assignment of phone numbers in El Salvador is a structured process guided by SIGET's national numbering plan. For fixed-line services, numbers starting with '2' are predominantly used. Within this '2' prefix, sub-ranges are allocated to specific geographic areas, such as the metropolitan area (San Salvador), central area, western area, and eastern area. For example, numbers starting with '22' or '25' are commonly associated with the metropolitan area of San Salvador, while '23', '24', and '26' relate to other regions. Telecommunication companies offering fixed-line services are assigned blocks of these numbers by SIGET, and they, in turn, distribute them to their subscribers.

Mobile phone numbers follow a similar, but distinct, assignment logic. They typically begin with '6' or '7'. The allocation of specific blocks within these prefixes to individual mobile network operators (like Claro, Tigo, Movistar, and Digicel) is also overseen by SIGET. This ensures that each operator has a sufficient pool of numbers to assign to new subscribers, and it also facilitates number portability, allowing users to retain their phone numbers even if they switch between different mobile service providers. The regulatory body regularly updates and manages the numbering plan to meet the evolving demands of the telecommunications market.

Special Numbers and Regulatory Oversight
In addition to standard fixed-line and mobile numbers, El Salvador's numbering plan also accounts for various special services. These include toll-free numbers (often starting with '800') and premium-rate numbers, which also adhere to specific formats and assignments regulated by SIGET. These special numbers are designed for particular uses, such as customer service lines or entertainment services, and their prefixes ensure that users are aware of the type of service they are accessing.