Telephone numbers in Australia

Australia telephone numbers

Location of Australia (dark green)
Location
Country	Australia
Continent	Oceania
Regulator	Australian Communications and Media Authority
Type	Open
NSN length	9
Typical format	(0x) xxxx xxxx 04xx xxx xxx (mobiles)
Access codes
Country calling code	+61
International call prefix	0011
Trunk prefix	0

The Australian telephone numbering plan describes the allocation of phone numbers in Australia. It has changed many times, the most recent major reorganisation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority taking place between 1994 and 1998.

For landline telephony, Australia is now geographically divided into four large areas, most of which cover more than one State and/or Territory. All "Local" telephone numbers within these four areas are of eight digits, consisting (mainly) of a four digit "Exchange" code plus a four digit number. The "National 'Significant' Number" consists of a single digit "Area" code followed by the "Local" eight digit number - a total of ten digits. Within Australia, to access the "Number" of a landline telephone in an "Area" other than that in which the caller is located (including a caller using a "Mobile" 'phone), firstly it is necessary to dial the Australian "Trunk Access Code" of 0 plus the "Area" code, followed by the "Local" Number. Thus, the "Full National Number" (FNN) has ten digits: 0x xxxx xxxx.

The Australian "Trunk Access Code" (0) and the following digit(s) specify the type of service required. The following is a high level listing of the numbering plan (including the "Trunk Access Code"), presented in domestic format. (Geographical region boundaries do not exactly follow State borders.)

The current numbering plan would appear to be sufficient to cope with potential increase in demand for services for quite some time to come. The 06 and 09 area codes are completely unused. In addition, each current area code has large number "ranges" unallocated.

When dialling from outside Australia it is necessary to dial the Country Code for Australia (61) followed by the nine digit "National 'Significant' Number" (the + symbol is used to represent International Access Code, e.g. +61 3 xxxx xxxx for a number in Victoria/Tasmania or +61 4xx xxx xxx for a "Mobile" number). Some numbers beginning with a 1 may be dialled without any replacement, after dialling the required International Access Code and the Country Code for Australia (+61). (see below)

Australian "Local Area" numbers are of eight digits in length, conventionally written in the form xxxx xxxx. "Mobile" (Cell Phone) numbers are written in the form of ten digits in length since, when dialed within Australia, the Trunk Access Code 0 must be included, plus 4, which indicates the Service required is a "Mobile" number. Mobile numbers are conventionally written 04xx xxx xxx. If a landline or mobile number is written where it may be viewed by an international audience (e.g. in an email signature or on a website) then the number is often written as +61 x xxxx xxxx or +61 4xx xxx xxx respectively.