Area Code 261 – Vau-Dejës

Geographic Overview

The +355 261 prefix is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the fixed-line telephone network serving the municipality of Vau-Dejës, located in the Shkodër County of northern Albania. This geographic area code is assigned to the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) infrastructure, which is operated primarily by the incumbent provider, but local loop unbundling may allow alternative carriers to offer fixed services under the same code.

Vau-Dejës is a small administrative center situated along the Drin River, known for its hydroelectric power station and as a gateway to the Albanian Alps. The code covers the town itself and the surrounding rural settlements within the municipal boundaries. Subscribers within this area are assigned numbers with a total length of eight digits when dialed in international format: +355 261 XXX XX.

Dialing Formats

For callers within Albania, the national trunk prefix is 0. To reach a Vau-Dejës number from another Albanian city or from a mobile phone, you must dial 0261 followed by the local subscriber number. For example, if the local number is 456 789, you would dial 0261 456 789 from within Albania.

For international callers, you must dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the United States and Canada), followed by Albania's country code 355, then the area code 261 without the leading zero, and finally the subscriber number. Thus, the complete international format would be +355 261 456 789.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 national numbering plan updates, there is no overlay code for Vau-Dejës; the 261 prefix remains exclusive to this geographic region. However, number portability is available in Albania, meaning that a subscriber who moves to a different geographic area may retain their original number, but the prefix no longer strictly indicates their physical location. Callers should be aware that while 261 is geographically assigned, the actual location of the called party could differ if the number has been ported.

For businesses operating in Vau-Dejës, it is important to display the number in international format on websites and marketing materials to facilitate calls from abroad. Local callers should use the national format with the leading zero. Understanding these dialing rules ensures efficient connectivity for both domestic and international communication.