Telephone numbers in Uruguay
Telephone numbers in Uruguay use the calling code +598. In 2010, national long distance calling was eliminated, and area codes were dropped. ANTEL (Spanish abbreviation for National Administration of Telecommunications) is Uruguay's state-owned company for telecommunications. HistoryOriginal phone numbers had between 4 and 7 digits. To make a local phone call, those digits were all that were necessary. To make a call between two cities from different departments, required dialing zero, an area code, and the local number. On August 29, 2010, all phone numbers were changed 8 digits, according to the National Numbering Plan. Area codes were eliminated. This plan was implemented by URSEC (Spanish abbreviation for Regulator Unit of Services of Communications). National Numbering PlanMontevideo metropolitan areaIn the metropolitan area, national numbers begin with 2. This 8-digit number consists of the former area code (2), followed by the old 7-digit number. Examples
Outside MontevideoIn the rest of the country, national numbers begin with 4. This 8-digit number consists of the number 4, followed by the former area code, followed by the old phone number. For example: Colonia
The department of Maldonado is an exception: the 8-digit number consists of the former area code 42, followed by the old phone number, with no additional digit 4 set before: San Carlos (Maldonado Department)
International callingFor calls from outside the country into Uruguay, the country code (+598) is prefixed to the 8-digit national number, while replacing the "+" with the international calling prefix used in the originating country. ExamplesCall to Montevideo
Call to Colonia
Former area codes and corresponding new telephone numbers
Mobile telephonyWhen mobile telephony arrived in Uruguay, Movicom BellSouth was the only service provider. Mobile phone numbers began with digits 09, followed by 6 digits: 09xxxxxx. In 1994, ANTEL started its own mobile phone service, creating Ancel, which later merged into Antel. This created a numbering change for mobile telephony. One number was assigned to each company to identify their numbers. This digit varied between 09 and the number. Movicom was assigned to 4, and Ancel to 9. Movicom numbers changed to 094xxxxxx, and new Ancel numbers became 099xxxxxx. In 2003, Claro came to Uruguay (originally as CTI Móvil). Numbers of this company were prefixed by 096: 096xxxxxx. In 2004, Telefónica bought Movicom Bellsouth and changed its name to Movistar. When the companies reached one million users, they had to be assigned other prefixes.
URSEC has reserved 084, 089 and 086 for a possible future use. From abroadWhen calling a cell phone in Uruguay from abroad, you only need to add the country code (598) to the 9-digit cell phone number, without the zero.
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