Area Code 2204 – Merlo, Buenos Aires

Overview of Area Code 2204

Area code 2204 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Merlo and its surrounding localities within the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This region is part of the Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, situated approximately 30 kilometers west of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. The code serves a densely populated area that includes Merlo proper, as well as neighboring districts such as Pontevedra, Libertad, and Mariano Acosta.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Merlo is the cabecera (head town) of the Merlo Partido, one of the 135 partidos of Buenos Aires Province. The area code 2204 covers the entire partido, which is an administrative division similar to a county. This jurisdiction is part of the western corridor of Greater Buenos Aires, bordered by the partidos of Morón, Ituzaingó, La Matanza, and Marcos Paz. The region has experienced significant urban development, with a mix of residential neighborhoods, commercial zones, and industrial parks.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

For callers within Argentina, the national trunk prefix 0 is used before the area code, followed by the subscriber number. The complete national format is 0-2204-XXXXXXX, where the subscriber number consists of seven digits. For example, to call a fixed line in Merlo from another Argentine city, one would dial 02204 1234567.

For international callers, the Argentine country code +54 is used, followed by the area code without the leading zero, and then the subscriber number. The international format is +54 2204 1234567. It is important to note that when dialing from abroad, the trunk prefix '0' is omitted.

Local calls within the same area code (Merlo and its surroundings) can be made using only the seven-digit subscriber number, without the area code. However, due to the expansion of the numbering plan, some users may need to dial the full national number even for local calls, depending on the specific telephone exchange and operator requirements.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T E.164 national numbering plan, area code 2204 does not have an overlay code. The seven-digit subscriber numbers are allocated to fixed-line services, primarily provided by Telecom Argentina (under the brand Telecom) and other licensed operators. In recent years, there has been a gradual migration towards fiber-optic and VoIP-based services, but the geographic numbering structure remains unchanged.

For callers outside Argentina, it is essential to check the current dialing instructions with their local carrier, as some countries require different international prefixes. Additionally, when calling from mobile phones, the same international format applies.