Area Code 263 – Pult/Shalë/Shosh/Temal/Shllak, Shkodër

Overview

The prefix +355 263 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the administrative region of Pult, Shalë, Shosh, Temal, and Shllak, located within the broader Shkodër County in northern Albania. This code is part of Albania's national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The region is characterized by mountainous terrain and a dispersed population, with local administrative centers serving as hubs for public services and commerce.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The code covers several administrative units in the northern part of the country, including the former municipalities of Pult, Shalë, Shosh, Temal, and Shllak. These areas are situated in the Albanian Alps, near the border with Montenegro. The primary towns and villages within this zone rely on fixed-line telephony for business and residential use. The region is part of the Shkodër District, and its telecommunications infrastructure is managed under the regulatory oversight of the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP).

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in this region from within Albania, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 263 and the subscriber's 5-digit local number. For example, a local number might be formatted as:

• 0 263 XXX XX (national format)

For international callers, the country code +355 is used, omitting the leading zero. The international format becomes:

• +355 263 XXX XX

It is important to note that the total number of digits after the country code is 8 (including the area code), which is standard for Albanian fixed-line numbers.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within the same area code, it may be possible to dial only the local number, depending on the specific network configuration. However, for calls from other regions in Albania, the full national format (0 263 XXX XX) is required. Foreign callers should always use the international format (+355 263 XXX XX) and ensure they have the correct international access prefix for their country (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the United States).

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest updates, there are no overlay codes in this area, meaning that the 263 code is exclusively used for this geographic region. The Albanian numbering plan has been stable, but subscribers should be aware that number portability exists for fixed lines, allowing users to retain their numbers when changing service providers, though the geographic significance of the prefix remains.

Practical Usage

Businesses and public institutions in the area use these numbers for daily operations. Tourists or individuals needing to reach local services, such as guesthouses or municipal offices, should use the international format when calling from abroad. It is advisable to confirm the correct number with the recipient, as local directories may list numbers in various formats.