World Telephone Numbering Guide

Updated 5 January 2013

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Germany

+49

Number Format

Area Code:            2-5 digits
Subscriber Number:    3-9 digits (see note below)
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 00

Subscriber Number can vary in length within an area code.

Area code information

July 2005 - change in telecom regulator

The functions of regulator RegTP were incorporated into a new regulator, Federal Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (or Federal Network Agency for short).

The RegTp website is therefore replaced by www.bundesnetzagentur.de".

(with news courtesy Sergiu Rosenzweig)

1 November 2002 - mobile number portability

Mobile numbers in Germany are now portable. That is, mobile area codes are no longer guaranteed to be associated with a particular carrier.

Christian Feldhaus notes about the situation prior to portability: "A number that begins with "0160..." number is a T-Mobile number while, say, "0172..." is a Vodafone number. Thus a customer willing to switch from one network to another had to get a new number."

Portability means that a mobile number established at one carrier may be kept if moving the service to another carrier. Customers using portability may be charged fees, perhaps on the order of 20-25 euros.

(Late 2002 update courtesy Christian Feldhaus)

1997-2000: Toll-free 0130 changes to 0800; Premium 0190 to 0900

Toll-free numbers in Germany were once dialed as 0130 + number domestically. This was converted to 0800 + number, with the first 0800 numbers entering service mid-1997. All toll-free numbers as from 1 January 1998 will be assigned in 0800. All 0130 numbers have been phased out (on or before 31 December 2000).

For premium-rate services, 0900 replaces 0190 (domestic codes). The first 0900 premium rate numbers were to be assigned late 2001, with "applications" possible as of 3 September 2001. However, service/information providers could still request 0190 numbers until the end of September 2001.

As of late 2002, it is reported that 0190 numbers may be used until 31 December 2005.

The current schedule and activities for decomissioning 0190 is available at Federal Network Agency at this page (in English).

(0190/0900 update courtesy Christian Feldhaus, as of late 2002)

Shared cost services (varying rates such as local rate) remain on the 0180 code.

More information is available from Federal Network Agency, primarily in German, but English information is also available.

(updated information courtesy Christian Feldhaus)

Other Information

The reunification of Germany resulted in the consolidation of former East German territories into country code 49 under area codes that began with the digit 3. Country code 37 was decommissioned, making available country codes 370 through 379 for other nations.

Regulator is Federal Network Agency, which replaced the former Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (Reg TP) in July 2005.

Prior to 1 January 1998, telecom regulation was conducted by BAPT before changing to RegTP.

The national communications regulator Reg TP has information on telephone numbering available generally in German. Carriers may now obtain numbering blocks from Reg TP, initially for 10-digit national numbers (area code plus subscriber number), and for 11-digits when extra capacity is required.

EU-standard codes 00 (international calling) and 112 (emergency) are already in use in Germany.

(includes information courtesy Christian Feldhaus)

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