Area Code 217 – Burrel

Overview of Albania's Geographic Numbering Plan

Albania's national telephone numbering plan adheres to the ITU-T E.164 recommendation, with the country calling code +355. Geographic numbers are allocated by the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) and are structured as: +355 (country code) followed by a National Destination Code (NDC) and the subscriber number. The NDC for Burrel is 217, which is a geographic area code assigned to the Mat District in north-central Albania.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 217 area code serves the municipality of Burrel, the administrative center of the Mat District, within the Dibër County. This region is located approximately 90 kilometers north of the capital, Tirana. The code covers the town of Burrel and its surrounding villages, including Klos, Lis, and Macukull. As a geographic code, it is tied to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) infrastructure of the area, though it may also be used by VoIP providers offering fixed-line services in the region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

Understanding the correct dialing sequence is crucial for both domestic and international callers.

• Domestic Calls (within Albania): Dial the NDC followed by the subscriber number. For example, to call a landline in Burrel with the subscriber number 12345, dial 217 12345. Note that the leading '0' is not used in international format but is required for domestic calls from mobile phones or other fixed lines.
• International Calls (from abroad): Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), then Albania's country code 355, followed by the NDC without the leading '0', and the subscriber number. For the same example, dial +355 217 12345.

When calling from a mobile phone within Albania, it is standard practice to include the '0' before the NDC, even though the call is routed via mobile networks. This is because the Albanian numbering plan requires the full national significant number (NDC + subscriber number) to be dialed.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest AKEP updates, there are no overlay codes for the 217 area. The subscriber number length for geographic codes in Albania is typically 5 to 7 digits, depending on the NDC. For Burrel, subscriber numbers are usually 5 digits, making the total national significant number 8 digits (including the NDC). This structure is consistent with the national numbering plan.

For international callers, it is essential to replace the leading '0' of the NDC with the country code. For example, the domestic number 0 217 12345 becomes +355 217 12345 internationally. This format ensures correct routing through international gateways.

Businesses in the Burrel area should display their numbers in international format on websites and global directories to facilitate communication with international clients. Local callers should always use the full domestic format to avoid misdialing.