World Telephone Numbering Guide

Updated 5 January 2013

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Estonia

+372

Number Format

Area Code:            none (formerly 0-2 digits)
Subscriber Number:    7 (formerly 5-8 digits)
Trunk Prefix:         0 (discontinued as of February 2004)
International Prefix: 00

National renumbering expected on 1 November 2002, to standardise at 7-digit telephone numbers with area codes as such eliminated; details below.

For the existing format (prior to November 2002): Area Code plus Subscriber Number generally totals 7 digits. Mobile and other wireless or non-geographic subscriber numbers could be 8 digits.

Area code information

1 January 2011 - various changes

Personal service numbers in the +372 70xxxxx range were migrated to +373 700xxxxx (inserted '0' digit to existing numbers) on 1 January 2011, with permissive use of 7-digit and 8-digit national personal numbers allowed until 1 January 2012. New ranges +372 701xxxxx and +372 702xxxxx were also introduced for new personal number service numbers. The +372 700xxxxx range was also frozen for new number bookings until 1 January 2013, when new available numbers can be assigned.

Special facsimile service (eFax) was introduced under a new +372 40xxxxxx number range.

A new mass calling range of numbers was also introduced - +372 705xxxxx.

Source: ETSA announcement (2 September 2010, via ITU)

(with tip courtesy Sergiu Rosenzweig)

1 January 2008 - new telecom regulator

Due to a restructuring of organisations in Estonia, the Estonian National Communications Board was replaced by a new telecom regulator, Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority.

May 2005 - numbering plan announced

Estonian National Communications Board (SIDEAMET) announced an updated list of numbering ranges for the now-closed numbering plan in Estonia.

See SIDEAMET announcement (6 May 2005, via ITU)

2003-2004 - national renumbering and closed dialling system

On 1 November 2002, a plan towards a national closed, portable numbering system in Estonia began. Area codes as such would be eliminated (existing area codes would be incorporated into national subscriber numbers), and a fully portable numbering system would be introduced, which no longer necessarily has reference to geography.

The dialling sequence of international calls into Estonia will not change. Dialling changes are domestic, although subscriber numbers will become national 7-digit format without area code, to be dialled after country code +372.

Reference: Total Telecom article (Estonia sets new phone number scheme for 2002, 8 December 2000)

In the plan, Estonia telephone numbering and dialling becomes a uniform closed 7-digit national system by 1 February 2004. Several phases were scheduled for this plan to be implemented:

1 May 2003 - 5-digit and 6-digit local subscriber number dialling eliminated in selected regions; these areas must use trunk prefix ('0') followed by area code and subscriber number. Use of trunk prefix is temporary, and is to be eliminated February 2004 (see below).

1 November 2003 - area code incorporated into the subscriber number; existing 5-digit or 6-digit subscriber number dialling is eliminated on this date. All fixed subscriber numbers are now considered to be national 7-digit numbers.

1 January 2004 - number portability becomes possible for fixed national subscriber numbers.

1 February 2004 - trunk prefix '0' eliminated; all conventional calls within Estonia are dialled as 7-digit national subscriber numbers.

1 February 2004 - national elimination of trunk prefix 0

With the uniform national numbering and dialling system in place, the national trunk prefix digit '0' is to be eliminated on 1 February 2004. Therefore, calls to conventional subscriber numbers within Estonia will be dialled as 7 digits. Source: Changes in procedure of dialling national numbers (sa.ee).

1 May 2003 - closed dialling plan in selected regions

Estonian National Communications Board announced that all calls from the Järvamaa (+372 38), Põlvamaa (+372 79), Saaremaa (+372 45) and Viljandimaa (+372 43) regions would require dialling trunk prefix, area code and subscriber number, regardless of whether the call was local or long distance.

These areas had 5-digit subscriber number dialling. The requirement to incorporate the area code prepares these areas for the implementation of the 7-digit national number system.

Permissive dialling of this closed dialling plan began 1 February 2003, and ended 1st May 2003 at which point all domestic dialling must be made in the same format (trunk prefix '0' + area code + subscriber number). Temporary use of trunk prefix ends in February 2004 (see above).

Source: Sideamet (sa.ee).

2000-2001 - various changes (short codes, trunk prefix, etc.)

Highlights of recent numbering changes:

1 January 2000: area codes 58 and 59 assigned for mobile uses.
Throughout 2000: Several short code numbering changes took effect.
1 August 2000: international prefix 00 replaced 8W00, while the national trunk prefix 0 replaced 8W2, 8 or 2 (where W indicates a wait for another tone).
1 January 2001: Carrier access codes in effect.

28 May 1994 - Tartu area code, subscriber numbers consolidated

Former Tartu subscriber numbers of +372 34 (former analog network) and +372 72 (former digital network) were consolidated into +372 7 area code. Former 5-digit subscriber numbers (beginning with 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 9) were prefixed with the digit '4' with this change.

The former Tartu domestic trunk code 272 was replaced by 27. Within Estonia, trunk codes are used prior to the subscriber number for long distance dialling.

Source: Estonian Review (27-29 May 1994).

Other Information

Withdrew from country code 7 (former USSR territory); ITU assigned country code 372 in January 1993. +7 014 was replaced by +372 in international dialling. The country code may have taken effect February 1993, with mandatory dialling March 1993 (not confirmed).

Major carrier is Elion (formerly ET).

Telecom regulator is Estonian Technical Surveillance Authority (Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet) which was split from Estonian National Communications Board on 1 January 2008.

Government ministry with responsibility for telecommunications is Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

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