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Updated 30 April 2005

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American Samoa

+1 (684)

Number Format

Area Code:            none
Subscriber Number:    7 digits
Trunk Prefix:         1
International Prefix: 011

2 October 2004 - American Samoa moves from +684 to +1 684

American Samoa formerly operated under country code +684, assigned on or before the 1964 CCITT Blue Book.

Other United States Pacific island territories (Guam and Northern Marianas) had replaced their direct country code access with area codes under the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) during 1997-1998.

After speculation when American Samoa would also join NANP, +1 684 (NPA/area code 684) became a reserved area code. A formal migration plan from +684 to +1 684 was approved by March 2003.

Migration timeline:

April 2001: United States and American Samoa territorial governments, in conjunction with the primary telecom carrier makes a "formal" application to the ATIS-INC and NANPA and FCC, to officially join the NANP. Various US Federal Government agencies have reportedly wanted this for several years.
24 December 2002: United States regulator Federal Communications Commission approves plan to include American Samoa in the NANP (country code +1).
24 January 2003: NANPA formally assigns +1 684 (NPA/area code 684) for American Samoa.
3 March 2003: first telecom industry conference call on incorporating American Samoa into the NANP.
24 March 2003: NANPA issues Planning Letter PL-330 outlining the migration plan for American Samoa.
2 September 2004: test number available by this date: +1 684 633.0001
2 October 2004: permissive dialling of +1 684 begins (+684 country code may still be used until mandatory dialling commences). Also, American Samoa carriers may request "Central office" or exchange codes from NANPA (that is, the three digits past +1 684, or first three digits of 7-digit subscriber number).
2 April 2005: mandatory dialling commences - calls to American Samoa must be made using +1 684 (North American Numbering Plan). Attempts to use country code +684 will obtain a recorded message. Also, the test number established for 2 September 2004 is expected to be discontinued. Country code +684 becomes an available code for ITU assignment.
2 April 2007: recorded message advising of discontinued +684 country code is to remain available until this date.

American Samoa number ranges as of 3 Mar 2003, with +684 changed to +1 684 for the following number ranges:

 
Former Range  Locality/Service   Carrier
============  ================   =======
+684 258      wireless PCS       Blue Sky 
+684 622      Fagaitua           ASTCA 
+684 633      Fagatogo           ASTCA 
+684 644      Satala             ASTCA 
+684 655      Ofu                ASTCA 
+684 677      Tau                ASTCA 
+684 688      Leone              ASTCA 
+684 691      Olotele/Aoloau     ASTCA 
+684 699      Tafuna             ASTCA 
+684 733      wireless cellular  ASTCA 

ASTCA = American Samoa Telecommunications Authority

American Samoa is not to be confused with the separate nation, Samoa +685 (formerly Western Samoa), whose telephone system and numbering plan significantly differ from NANP standards.

Sources: NANP information on American Samoa.

NANPA announcement (9 September 2004, via ITU) Additional background and timeline information courtesy Mark Cuccia. Also corrections courtesy David Cantrell.

Other information

Details of entry into NANP (+1) are in NANPA Planning Letter (PL-330) of 2003.

See United States Pacific Islands section.

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