Area Code 283 – Kolsh/Zejmen/Shënkoll, Lezhë

Overview of Area Code +355 283

Area code 283 is a geographic routing code within the Albanian national numbering plan, assigned to the Lezhë County region in northwestern Albania. Specifically, it serves the administrative units of Kolsh, Zejmen, and Shënkoll, which are part of the Lezhë municipality. This code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services and is allocated by the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) in accordance with ITU-T E.164 recommendations.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Context

The area code 283 covers a predominantly rural and semi-urban territory along the Drin River delta and the Adriatic coast. Key localities include:

• Kolsh – an administrative unit known for agricultural activity and proximity to the Lezhë castle.
• Zejmen – a settlement situated on the main road connecting Lezhë to Shkodër.
• Shënkoll – a coastal unit near the mouth of the Mat River, with developing tourism infrastructure.

The region is part of the broader Lezhë District, which historically served as a strategic crossroads. The code 283 is distinct from the Lezhë city code (285) and other neighboring codes, ensuring efficient routing within the national network.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

To call a fixed-line number in the 283 area from within Albania, subscribers must use the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. The national significant number (NSN) is 8 digits long, comprising the area code (3 digits) and a 5-digit local number.

• National dialing (within Albania): 0 283 XXX XX
• International dialing (from abroad): +355 283 XXX XX

For example, if the local number is 45 678, a caller from Tirana would dial 0283 45 678, while an international caller would dial +355 283 45 678.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest AKEP updates, there is no overlay code for the 283 area. The code is exclusively used for geographic fixed-line services, and number portability allows subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators within the same geographic area. However, porting does not change the geographic association of the code.

Practical Guidance for Callers

For local callers within the same area code, it is common to dial only the 5-digit subscriber number (e.g., 45 678) in many private networks, but for clarity and compatibility, using the full national format (0 283 XXX XX) is recommended. International callers should always replace the leading zero with the +355 country code. Be aware that calls to Albanian fixed lines are typically charged at domestic rates when dialed from Albanian mobile networks, but international rates apply from abroad.