Area Code 297 – Gjorice/Ostren/Trebisht/Martanesh, Bulqizë

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Context

The +355 297 country-code/area-code combination is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to a cluster of municipalities in the Bulqizë District of northeastern Albania. Specifically, it serves the administrative units of Gjorice, Ostren, Trebisht, and Martanesh, which are part of the wider Dibër County. These areas are predominantly rural and mountainous, located near the border with North Macedonia. The code is used for fixed-line PSTN services within this defined geographic region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Albania, the national trunk prefix '0' is used before the area code. Thus, to call a fixed-line subscriber in the Gjorice/Ostren/Trebisht/Martanesh area, you would dial: 0 297 XXX XXX (where XXX XXX is the local subscriber number). For international callers, the format is: +355 297 XXX XXX or 011 355 297 XXX XXX (when dialing from North America). The local subscriber number is typically six digits, but may vary in length depending on the specific exchange and historical numbering allocations.

Numbering Plan and Overlay Considerations

Albania's numbering plan follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The NDC 297 is a geographic code, meaning that the tariff and routing are based on the physical location of the line. There are no overlay codes in this region; the code is exclusively used for the specified municipalities. As of the latest updates, no major numbering changes have been announced for this area, but users should always verify with their service provider for any local dialing adjustments.

Practical Usage and Service Availability

Fixed-line services in this region are primarily provided by the incumbent operator, One Albania (formerly Telekom Albania), and alternative operators may offer services via unbundled local loops. Due to the rural nature of the area, VoIP and mobile services are often used as substitutes, but the geographic code remains essential for businesses and public institutions that require a fixed-line presence. When dialing from abroad, ensure you have the correct international exit code and that the called party's number is formatted with the leading '0' omitted after the country code.

For any discrepancies or updated dialing procedures, consult your telecom operator or the Albanian Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP).