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Bosnia and Hercegovina | +387 |
Area Code: 2 digits Subscriber Number: 5-6 digits (see note below) Trunk Prefix: 0 International Prefix: 00Subscriber Number: currently 5-6 digits, to consistent 6 digits by July 2001 (as from July 2001: national 8-digit subscriber numbers, no area code)
Based on information from BH Telecom.
This plan will provide a common numbering system for all communication carriers. For example, there were at least three fixed-line operators serving this nation; numbers for some of these services required routing through the country code of an adjacent nation.
Agreements and numbering conventions for the new plan were to be completed by 1 May 2000, when preparations for the new numbering plan commence.
Implementation dates were unclear, but reports indicate this likely began 14 May 2000 and continued through 4 June 2000. On 22 May 2000, the three major wireline carriers concluded Interconnect Agreements.
Subscriber numbers were initially converted to a fixed format: area codes of 2 digits, with subscriber numbers of 6 digits - a consistent 8-digit national plan. Existing 5-digit subscriber numbers were to be extended to the 6-digit format. There were also some rearrangement of area code geographic boundaries which required subscriber number and/or area code changes.
As from 1 July 2002, after subscriber numbers have been modified to the constant 2-digit area code / 6-digit subscriber number format, a closed numbering plan will take effect. All domestic calls, whether local or long distance, would be dialled as 8 digits - the area code plus subscriber number. The new 8-digit numbers would be formatted as two groups of 4 digits, such as '3399 9999' for an example Sarajevo number. An initial '0' prefix would no longer be required for domestic long distance calls.
In the new plan, geographic area codes will be changed so that they begin with the digit 3 or 5. Mobile numbering will begin with 66. Special non-geographic services (freephone, premium, personal) will begin with 7, 8 or 9. However, these codes conflicted with the existing area codes; example: 80 is the area code for Livno, which would be changed to a new area code. 800 can be used for freephone services since no Livno subscriber number begins with 0, but eventually Livno changed to conform to the new geographic area code range.
Permissive dialling dates remain unknown - there was to have been a 2-3 month time frame during which old and new format numbers could be dialled. The date on which old format numbers were discontinued is unknown.
112 was established as the general emergency number, following the European Union standard. Existing emergency numbers will remain in effect for an indefinite period. Special services beginning with '9' will be changed to European-style short codes beginning with '1'.
The following list indicates the new Bosnia and Hercegovina area codes for the new numbering plan which took effect (full implementation was expected by 2002, if not already). The most significant changes were reported to have taken effect on or about 22 May 2000. The change from old area code is indicated in the Comments column where this detail is known:
Area Code Place/Service Comments --------- ------------- -------- 30 Middle Bosnia (Canton 6) or Srednjo-Bosanski 31 Posavina (Canton 2) or Posavski 32 Zenica-Doboj (Canton 4) or Zenicko-Dobojski, was 72 33 Sarajevo (Canton 9) was 71 34 Herzeg-Bosnia (Canton 10) or Hercegovasko-Bosanski 35 Tuzla-Podrinje (Canton 3) or Tuzlanski 36 Herzegovina-Neretva (Canton 7) or Hercegovacko-Neretvanski 37 Una Sana (Canton 1) or Unsko-Sanski 38 Gorazde-Upper Drina (Canton 5) or Bosansko-Podrinjski, was 73 39 West Herzegovina (Canton 8) or Zapadno-Hercegovacki 49 Brcko was 76; was to change to 54? 50 Mrkonjic-Grad 51 Banja Luka was 78 52 Prijedor was 79 53 Doboj was 74 54 Bosanski Amac was 76; Brcko was to be 54 - see 49 55 Bijelina (Bijeljina) 56 Zvojnik (Zvornik) was 75 57 Pale 58 Srbrinje, Foca 59 Trebinje was 89 61 [new] Mobile [as of June 2002] BH Telecom - formerly 661 66x Mobile digit after 66 determines carrier 661 [now 61] Mobile - PTT BiH Bosnian network [until June 2002] 663 Mobile - HPT Mostar (ERONET) Croatian network 665 Mobile - Telekom Srpska Serbian network 70 Personal Numbering Jajce 70 code must change first 80 Freephone Livno 80 must eventually change 81 Shared cost numbers 88 Freephone (reserved) Medjugorje 88 code must change first 90 Premium services
For the technically minded, switching is by Ericsson AXE10, Siemens EWSD and Alcatel S12.
(news courtesy Richard D G Cox; additional detail courtesy Leonard Ziegler).
See also these articles from OHR: Economic Newsletter regarding the Bosnia and Herzegovina numbering plan changes:
An ITU Information Note of 10 May 1999 announced that a "closed plan", or a scheme which treats the entire territory as a large city. 19 national codes, plus a national GSM code of 66 will take effect.
(tips with some news courtesy Richard D G Cox)
Numbering information link (via ITU).