Area Code 574 – Rashbull/Gjepalaj, Durrës

Overview of Area Code 574

Area code 574 is a geographic numbering plan area within the Republic of Albania, allocated under the national destination code framework defined by the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP). It serves the municipalities of Rashbull and Gjepalaj, located in the western lowlands of the Durrës County (Qarku i Durrësit). This region lies along the Adriatic coastal plain, north of the port city of Durrës, and includes agricultural and developing suburban zones.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 574 code covers the administrative units of Rashbull and Gjepalaj within the Bashkia e Durrësit (Municipality of Durrës). Rashbull is situated near the main road connecting Durrës to the capital, Tirana, while Gjepalaj is a more rural area to the northeast. The code is used for fixed-line telephone services (PSTN and VoIP) provided by licensed operators such as Albtelecom, Vodafone Albania, and One Albania (formerly Telekom Albania).

Dialing Formats and Procedures

When calling a fixed-line subscriber in the 574 area, the national significant number (NSN) consists of the area code followed by a subscriber number. The standard format is:

• National dialing (within Albania): 0 574 XXX XXX
• International dialing (from abroad): +355 574 XXX XXX

For example, if a local number is 123 456, you would dial 0574 123 456 from within Albania, or +355 574 123 456 from any international location. The leading '0' is used only for domestic calls and is dropped when dialing from outside the country, as per ITU-T E.164 guidelines.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest AKEP numbering plan, there is no overlay code for this area; 574 remains the sole geographic code for Rashbull and Gjepalaj. However, subscribers may have ported their numbers to other operators, but the geographic significance of the prefix is retained. For callers, it is important to note that while VoIP services may be used, the number remains associated with the geographic location for emergency services and regulatory purposes.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Albania, always include the trunk prefix '0' when dialing from a different area code. For international callers, replace the '0' with the country code +355. Ensure you have the correct subscriber number, as numbers in this region typically have 6 to 7 digits after the area code. For any assistance, contact your service provider or consult the AKEP numbering database.