|br| Brazil +55

 

Number Format

Area Code:            2 digits
Subscriber Number:    8 digits (formerly 7-8 digits, see note below)
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 00

Area Code was formerly 2 or 3 digits, with subscriber numbers formerly 6-8 digits. National renumbering until end-2005 will result in a consistent 2+8 format.

 

Area code information

29 July 2012 - Sao Paulo mobile number expansion

'9' was prepended to mobile subscriber numbers in Sao Paulo, so that a mobile number of form +55 11 xxxxxxxx became +55 11 9xxxxxxxx. Eventually, all mobile subscriber numbers in Brazil will be converted to 9-digit format, within each area code. Existing mobile numbers outside Sao Paulo are of the form +55 AA 6xxxxxxx, +55 AA 7xxxxxxx, +55 AA 8xxxxxxx or +55 AA 9xxxxxxx (where AA represents the regional area code).

There are no changes planned for fixed services (subscriber numbers of form +55 AA 2xxxxxxx, +55 AA 3xxxxxxx, +55 AA 4xxxxxxx or +55 AA 5xxxxxxx). Nor are mobile radio subscriber numbers expected to change (+55 AA 7xxxxxxx).

Source: ANATEL announcement (26 January 2012, via ITU)

(with additional reports courtesy Sergiu Rosenzweig and David Bush)

 

29 August 2008 - local number portability within area codes

Brazil subscribers in specific area codes now have limited number portability, providing an ability to retain subscriber number when changing within fixed/wireline or wireless/mobile carriers, within the same area code. Implementation is expected to complete for all area codes in March 2009. However, since there are different numbering ranges for wireline and wireless numbers, it is not currently possible to keep a subscriber number when changing between telephone modes e.g. must accept a new subscriber number when transferring from a fixed/wireline service to a mobile/wireless service.

Source: Teleco information sheet on portability (in Portuguese).

(report courtesy Luiz Rodrigues)

 

Until October 2008 - São Paulo, subscriber numbers beginning with 6 dedicated for mobile service

Wireline/fixed subscriber numbers within São Paulo (+55 11) which began with digit '6' were being reassigned to begin with digit '2', to allow mobile/wireless services to use the '6' range. Mobile subscriber numbers in this area already begin with digits '7', '8' and '9' but use of these number ranges is approaching capacity. Therefore the '6' range is to be freed for mobile/wireless services by end-2008, while digits '2' through '5' signify fixed/wireline subscriber numbers.

According to Teleco, there are 122.8 million cellphones in Brazil.

Sources: Telefônica announcement (Portuguese)

Teleco: numbering information (Portuguese)

(News courtesy Luiz Rodrigues)

 

1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005 - National renumbering

Telephone numbers in Brazil changed to a standard 2-digit area code and 8-digit subscriber number in a long-term programme that completed by 31 December 2005.

Previously, telephone numbers had varying lengths - 2- or 3- digit area codes (excluding prefixes) followed by 6- to 8- digit subscriber numbers.

Subsections below provide scheduling and details for changes in each area.

2-digit area codes have been standard throughout Brazil for many years. Carriers had until 31 December 2005 to convert their remaining 7-digit subscriber numbers to 8-digit format. This was based on orders of telecom regulator Anatel, resolution of 20 September 1999.

As of June 2001, all cellular mobile subscriber numbers in Brazil are now 8-digit, beginning with digit '8' or '9', under the same area codes as wireline/fixed numbers.

More on mobile service from Alexandre: "All cell phone companies including TIM, Oi and Claro - adopted the GSM technology at 1.8 frequency. Vivo is the only in Brasil using CDMA."

There are no longer any 6-digit subscriber numbers.

In the new format, the leading digit of the subscriber number indicates its purpose: numbers beginning 2 through 6 are for conventional wireline services; 7 and 8 are for future use or expansion; 9 will represent cellular services.

Some places in Minas Gerais, near Brasilia were changed from the Federal District code of +55 61 to +55 38 during 2000. A few centres near Brasilia, such as Goias and Tocantins, are still in +55 61.

Comments on the national renumbering timetable from Alexandre:

"The National Agency of Telecomunications - ANATEL - postponed to the end of 2005 the date when all fixed phones in Brasil must be eight digit long. Until August 27 [2005], all lines operated by Telemar will be eight digit. Telefónica that operates in the state of São Paulo still has a few old seven digit lines in the city of São Paulo to be moved to eight digits. Brasil Telecom that operates in the South and in the Central-West has already moved to eight digits only in Porto Alegre, [Rio Grande do Sul] area code 51, and in Londrina, [Paraná] area code 43. It has to change to eight digit number still this year."

Source: ANATEL.

See also article, "Brasil Telecom promete 8 dígitos até novembro", of 18 March 2005 (in Portuguese), regarding changes for Brasil Telecom.

(details courtesy Paulo T. Strazieri and Alexandre)

 

by November 2005 - 8-digit subscriber numbers in remaining areas

Subscriber numbers in Brasil Telecom areas that have not converted to 8-digit format were expected to do so by November 2005, before the 31 December 2005 target date to complete Brazil's national renumbering programme.

ANATEL announced (13 July 2005, via ITU) that this renumbering programme was on schedule.

'3' was prepended to subscriber numbers in the following area codes according to this timetable:

 

Area Code  Province              Conversion date      Notes
---------  --------              ---------------      -----
+55 11     São Paulo             30 October 2005?     #1, AN
+55 12     São Paulo             ?? September 2000
+55 13     São Paulo             ?? September 2000
+55 14     São Paulo             30 October 2005?     AN
+55 15     São Paulo             30 October 2005?     AN
+55 16     São Paulo             ?? September 2000
+55 17     São Paulo             30 October 2005?     AN
+55 18     São Paulo             30 October 2005?     AN
+55 19     São Paulo             ?? September 2000
+55 21     Rio de Janeiro        ?? June 2001         #2
+55 22     Rio de Janeiro        unknown ??           AN (complete by Nov 2005)
+55 24     Rio de Janeiro        ?? June 2001         #2
+55 27     Espirito Santo        ?? June 2001         #2
+55 28     Espirito Santo        unknown ??           AN
+55 31     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 32     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 33     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 34     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 35     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 36     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 37     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 38     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 39     Minas Gerais          October 2000
+55 41     Paraná                14 May 2005          BT
+55 42     Paraná                12 March 2005        BT
+55 43     Paraná                16 April 2005        BT
+55 44     Paraná                16 April 2005        BT
+55 45     Paraná                23 April 2005        BT
+55 46     Paraná                12 March 2005        BT
+55 47     Santa Catarina        19 November 2005?    BT, AN
+55 48     Santa Catarina        24 September 2005?   BT, AN
+55 49     Santa Catarina        30 July 2005?        BT, AN
+55 51     Rio Grande do Sul     ?? May 2001          #3
+55 53     Rio Grande do Sul     21 May 2005          BT
+55 54     Rio Grande do Sul     26 November 2005?    BT, AN
+55 55     Rio Grande do Sul     12 March 2005        BT
+55 61     Distrito Federal      25 June 2005         BT
+55 62     Goiás                 23 July 2005?        BT, AN
+55 63     Tocantins             19 March 2005        BT
+55 64     Goiás                 23 July 2005?        BT, AN
+55 65     Mato Grosso           27 August 2005?      BT, AN
+55 66     Mato Grosso           27 August 2005?      BT, AN
+55 67     Mato Grosso do Sul    22 October 2005?     BT, AN
+55 68     Acre                  26 February 2005     BT
+55 69     Rondonia              23 April 2005        BT
+55 71     Bahia                 26 February 2005     BT
+55 73     Bahia                 26 February 2005     BT
+55 74     Bahia                 26 February 2005     BT
+55 75     Bahia                 26 February 2005     BT
+55 77     Bahia                 26 February 2005     BT
+55 79     Sergipe               26 March 2005        Tm, #4
+55 81     Pernambuco            ?? October 2000
+55 82     Alagoas               28 May 2005          Tm, BT
+55 83     Paraíba               16 April 2005        Tm, #5
+55 84     Rio Grande do Norte   14 May 2005          Tm, BT
+55 85     Ceará                 16 October 2004      Tm, #6
+55 86     Piauí                 16 July 2005         Tm, BT
+55 87     Pernambuco            unknown              AN
+55 88     Ceará                 16 October 2004      Tm, #6
+55 89     Piauí                 16 July 2005         Tm, BT
+55 91     Pará                  12 March 2005        Tm, #6
+55 92     Amazonas              18 June 2005         BT
+55 93     Pará                  12 March 2005        Tm, #6
+55 94     Pará                  12 March 2005        Tm, #6
+55 95     Roraima               27 August 2005       Tm, BT
+55 96     Amapá                 13 August 2005       Tm, BT
+55 97     Amazonas              18 June 2005         Tm, BT
+55 98     Maranhão              20 November 2004     Tm, #6
+55 99     Maranhão              20 November 2004     Tm, #6

Explanation of table Notes:

  • #1 - almost all subscriber numbers were 8-digits on September 2000; some remaining 7-digit subscriber numbers at that point
  • #2 - some exceptions to the rule of prepending '3' to subscriber number; see detailed section below, based on Conversion Date
  • #3 - change affected Porto Alegre; other Rio Grande do Sul areas were for later changes
  • #4 - not all numbers were changed by prepending '3'; see detailed section below
  • #5 - subscriber numbers from +55 83 2xxxxxx through +55 83 6xxxxxx); also new range +55 83 3131xxxx is introduced.
  • #6 - subscriber number ranges affected by the change are detailed in a corresponding section below
  • BT - information based on carrier Brasil Telecom
  • Tm - information based on carrier Telemar
  • AN - based on July 2005 ANATEL announcement

Sources: Alexandre, Telemar.

 

26 March 2005 - Sergipe expands to 8-digit subscriber numbers

Most Sergipe subscriber numbers were expanded by prepending with digit '3'. But some exceptions apply, as flagged by [exc] in the following table:

 

Old Number Range  New Number Range
----------------  ----------------
+55 79 20xxxxx    +55 79 320xxxxx
+55 79 21xxxxx    +55 79 321xxxxx
+55 79 221xxxx    +55 79 3221xxxx
+55 79 222xxxx    +55 79 3222xxxx
+55 79 223xxxx    +55 79 3223xxxx
+55 79 224xxxx    +55 79 3224xxxx
+55 79 2251xxx    +55 79 31311xxx [exc]
+55 79 2252xxx    +55 79 31312xxx [exc]
+55 79 2253xxx    +55 79 32253xxx
+55 79 2254xxx    +55 79 32254xxx
+55 79 2255xxx    +55 79 32255xxx
+55 79 2256xxx    +55 79 32256xxx
+55 79 2257xxx    +55 79 32257xxx
+55 79 2258xxx    +55 79 32258xxx
+55 79 2259xxx    +55 79 32259xxx
+55 79 226xxxx    +55 79 3226xxxx
+55 79 227xxxx    +55 79 3227xxxx
+55 79 23xxxxx    +55 79 323xxxxx
+55 79 24xxxxx    +55 79 324xxxxx
+55 79 25xxxxx    +55 79 325xxxxx
+55 79 26xxxxx    +55 79 326xxxxx
+55 79 27xxxxx    +55 79 327xxxxx
+55 79 28xxxxx    +55 79 328xxxxx
+55 79 29xxxxx    +55 79 329xxxxx
+55 79 31xxxxx    +55 79 331xxxxx
+55 79 32xxxxx    +55 79 332xxxxx
+55 79 33xxxxx    +55 79 333xxxxx
+55 79 341xxxx    +55 79 3341xxxx
+55 79 342xxxx    +55 79 3342xxxx
+55 79 343xxxx    +55 79 3343xxxx
+55 79 344xxxx    +55 79 3344xxxx
+55 79 3455xxx    +55 79 33455xxx
+55 79 3456xxx    +55 79 3278xxxx [exc]
+55 79 346xxxx    +55 79 3346xxxx
+55 79 347xxxx    +55 79 3347xxxx
+55 79 348xxxx    +55 79 3348xxxx
+55 79 349xxxx    +55 79 3349xxxx
+55 79 35xxxxx    +55 79 335xxxxx
+55 79 36xxxxx    +55 79 336xxxxx
+55 79 37xxxxx    +55 79 337xxxxx
+55 79 41xxxxx    +55 79 341xxxxx
+55 79 43xxxxx    +55 79 343xxxxx
+55 79 44xxxxx    +55 79 344xxxxx
+55 79 45xxxxx    +55 79 345xxxxx
+55 79 46xxxxx    +55 79 346xxxxx
+55 79 48xxxxx    +55 79 348xxxxx
+55 79 52xxxxx    +55 79 352xxxxx
+55 79 53xxxxx    +55 79 353xxxxx
+55 79 54xxxxx    +55 79 354xxxxx
+55 79 61xxxxx    +55 79 361xxxxx
+55 79 63xxxxx    +55 79 363xxxxx
+55 79 64xxxxx    +55 79 364xxxxx
+55 79 65xxxxx    +55 79 365xxxxx

Source: Telemar.

 

12 March 2005 - Pará expands to 8-digit subscriber numbers

Detailed list of number ranges changed:

 

Old Number Range  New Number Range
----------------  ----------------
+55 91 2xxxxxx    +55 91 32xxxxxx
+55 91 4xxxxxx    +55 91 34xxxxxx
+55 91 5xxxxxx    +55 91 35xxxxxx
+55 91 6xxxxxx    +55 91 36xxxxxx
+55 93 4xxxxxx    +55 93 34xxxxxx
+55 93 5xxxxxx    +55 93 35xxxxxx
+55 94 3xxxxxx    +55 94 33xxxxxx
+55 94 4xxxxxx    +55 94 34xxxxxx

Source: Telemar.

 

20 November 2004 - Maranhão expands to 8-digit subscriber numbers

Detailed list of number ranges changed:

 

Old format       New format
==========       ==========
+55 98 2xxxxxx   +55 98 32xxxxxx
+55 98 3xxxxxx   +55 98 33xxxxxx
+55 98 4xxxxxx   +55 98 34xxxxxx
+55 98 5xxxxxx   +55 98 35xxxxxx
+55 98 6xxxxxx   +55 98 36xxxxxx
+55 99 2xxxxxx   +55 99 32xxxxxx
+55 99 3xxxxxx   +55 99 33xxxxxx
+55 99 4xxxxxx   +55 99 34xxxxxx
+55 99 5xxxxxx   +55 99 35xxxxxx
+55 99 6xxxxxx   +55 99 36xxxxxx

Source: Telemar.

 

16 October 2004 - Ceará expands to 8-digit subscriber numbers

'3' will be prepended to existing Ceará subscriber numbers to form 8-digit subscriber numbers on 16 October 2004 as follows:

 

Old format       New format
==========       ==========
+55 85 2xxxxxx   +55 85 32xxxxxx
+55 85 3xxxxxx   +55 85 33xxxxxx
+55 85 4xxxxxx   +55 85 34xxxxxx
+55 88 2xxxxxx   +55 88 32xxxxxx
+55 88 3xxxxxx   +55 88 33xxxxxx
+55 88 4xxxxxx   +55 88 34xxxxxx
+55 88 5xxxxxx   +55 88 35xxxxxx
+55 88 6xxxxxx   +55 88 36xxxxxx

(courtesy Telemar)

 

27 October 2001 - various area code splits

Certain area codes in Brazil split as of 27 October 2001. This was a flash cut, where old codes were no longer available.

There is an area code split map web page.

Area code splits occurred in the following states:

Rio de Janeiro (interior)

+55 24 split - new +55 22 serves eastern and northern parts of the State of Rio de Janeiro (including the cities of Nova Friburgo, Cabo Frio, Búzios and Campos). Western and southern parts of the State remain in +55 24.

The capital city (Rio de Janeiro) was unchanged at +55 21.

Espírito Santo

+55 27 split - new +55 28 serves southern parts of the State (including Guarapari and Cachoeiro do Itapemirim). The capital city Vitória and the northern part of the State remain in +55 27.

Goiás

+55 62 split - new +55 64 serves western and southern parts of the State. The capital city Goiânia and the central and northern parts of the State remain in +55 62.

Mato Grosso

+55 65 split - new +55 66 serves northern, eastern and southern parts of the State. The capital city Cuiabá and the western part of the State remain in +55 65.

Pernambuco

+55 81 split - new +55 87 serves central and western parts of the State. The capital city Recife, as well as Caruarú, Fernando de Noronha and the eastern part of the State remain in +55 81.

Piauí

+55 86 split - new +55 89 serves southern parts of the State. The capital city Teresina and northern parts of the State remain in +55 86.

Pará

+55 91 split - new +55 93 serves western parts of the State (including Santarém). New +55 94 will serve Central and southern parts of the State (including Marabá). The capital city Belém and eastern parts of the State remain in +55 91.

Amazonas

+55 92 split - new +55 97 serves northern, western and southern parts of the State The capital city Manaus and eastern parts of the State will remain in +55 92.

Maranhão

+55 98 split - new +55 99 serves central and southern parts of the State. The capital city Sâo Luís and northern parts of the State remain in +55 98.

(courtesy Alexandre).

Note there are some problems locating updated area code lists, as many of the lookup sites still contained the former area codes, prior to this change.

(with news courtesy Avatar)

Also see:

 

June 2001 - Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro subscriber number changes

In State of Espírito Santo (area code +55 27), all 7-digit subscriber numbers were prepended with digit '3'.

In State of Rio de Janeiro (area codes +55 21 and +55 24), all 7-digit subscriber numbers beginning with digits 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were prepended with an initial digit '2'. All 7-digit subscriber numbers beginning with digits 3 and 8 were prepended with an initial digit '3'.

(courtesy Alexandre)

 

September 2000 - São Paulo subscriber number changes

Subscriber numbers in São Paulo State changed from 7 to 8 digits.

All 7-digit subscriber numbers of +55 12, +55 13, +55 16 and +55 19 were prepended with initial digit '3'.

In the state capital city (São Paulo, +55 11), almost all subscriber numbers are already 8 digits beginning with digit 3, 4, 5 or 6. There are still a few 7-digit subscriber numbers beginning with digit 2 that will be changed in the near future (as of June 2001).

In the remaining area codes of the State (+55 14, +55 15, +55 17, and +55 18), 7-digit subscriber numbers will change to 8-digit numbers in the near future (as of June 2001).

(courtesy Alexandre)

 

3 July 1999 - Carrier Selection Codes

As of 3 July 1999, a 2-digit carrier code must be included in long distance dialling:

Domestic calls:
0 + carrier code + area code + subscriber number

International calls:
00 + carrier code + country code + national number

For example, a São Paulo phone number of 2345-6789 will be dialled through Embratel MCI's network as 0 + 21 + 11 + 2345-6789 which represents the following:


0 - domestic long distance prefix
21 - carrier code for Embratel MCI
11 - São Paulo area code
2345-6789 - São Paulo subscriber number

The carrier company codes are (as of June 2001):

12 = CTBC Telecom
14 = Brasil Telecom (formerly Tele Centro-Sul)
15 = Telefónica
21 = Embratel MCI
23 = Intelig (formerly Bonari)
31 = Telemar
43 = Sercontel
51 = CRT Brasil Telecom (formerly CRT)
85 = V&eacutr;sper (formerly Cambra)

More information is available from ANATEL (National Agency of Telecommunications) (http://www.anatel.gov.br).

(Thanks to Luiz for news on these changes, Alexandre for carrier code updates)

 

30 December 1998 - numbering plan resolution

Regulator ANATEL released its Resolution 86, dated 30 December 1998: Regulation of Fixed Switched Telephone Service Numbering.

This established the future numbering plan in Brazil, including the ultimate "2+8" subscriber numbering format (2-digit area code + 8-digit subscriber number).

Shortcodes are specified in 1xx format, with 19x for emergency codes.

Timelines indicated in the document:

    • 30 June 1999 - capability to process 19-digit dialling sequences
    • 30 June 1999 - implement 9011+ prefix for collect calling
    • 30 June 1999 - introduce carrier selection for international and domestic calls
    • 30 June 2000 - 4-digit short codes no longer allowed, and only authorised 3-digit shortcodes may be used
    • 31 December 2000 - capacity to dial non-geographic numbers such as 0800 xxxxxxx (freephone) and 0900 xxxxxxx (premium)
    • 31 December 2005 - deadline for completion of transition to 2+8 format for all area codes and subscriber numbers

Subscriber number ranges:

    • 2xxxxxxx through 6xxxxxxx are for fixed/wireline numbers
    • 9xxxxxxx for mobile numbers
    • x00xxxxx is reserved for future use (migration/expansion?)
    • xxx0xxxx is designated for portability purposes

See also:

ANATEL Regulation on Numbering document 83

ANATEL Regulation on the Administration of Numbering Resoources document 84

 

(to 1997) Various Changes

On July 1997, the +55 24x regions (domestically, 0242, 0243, 0244, 0245, 0246, 0247 and 0248) were consolidated under +55 24 (024 domestically) with the local number expanded by the digit after the 24. (Details courtesy of TELERJ).

On 8 December 1996, new +55 74 (northwest Bahia) and +55 77 (southwest Bahia) area codes were put into service in the Bahia region. (Source: Telebahia press release whose web page is no longer reachable.)

 

Other information

Regulator: Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicaçoes (ANATEL)

.ANATEL Non-geographic numbering information (in Portuguese).

ANATEL site also contains some national numbering related resolution numbers of note:

ANATEL regulatory documents (in Portuguese)

    • 228/2000
    • 229/2000
    • 233/2000
    • 241/2000
    • 263/2001
    • 298/2002 (with annex)
    • 301/2002 (with annex)

(information courtesy Sergiu Rosenzweig) Carriers: