Area Code 2942 – Zapala, Neuquén

Overview of Area Code 2942

Area code 2942 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Zapala and its surrounding localities in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. This code is part of the national numbering plan administered by the Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones (ENACOM), following the ITU-T E.164 recommendation for international dialing. The region is situated in the Patagonian steppe, west of the Neuquén River, and serves as a key commercial and transportation hub for the central part of the province.

Geographic Coverage and Localities

The 2942 area code covers the city of Zapala (the head town of the Zapala Department) and several nearby rural and semi-urban areas, including but not limited to: Mariano Moreno, Covunco, Los Catutos, and Paso Aguerre. The region is known for its oil and gas industry, as well as its proximity to the Barda Negra and other natural attractions. For administrative purposes, the code is classified as a geographic allocation, meaning that the number is tied to a physical line in that specific area.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

To call a fixed-line number within Argentina from another province or from a mobile phone, you must dial the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 2942 and the subscriber number (which typically has 6 to 7 digits). For example, to reach a local number such as 456789 from Buenos Aires, you would dial: 0 2942 456789. When calling from abroad, you need to use the international access code (e.g., 00 from most countries), followed by Argentina's country code 54, then the area code without the leading zero, and the subscriber number: +54 2942 456789.

For local calls within the same area code, you can simply dial the subscriber number without the area code. However, due to the growth of mobile and VoIP services, it is recommended to always use the full national format (0-2942-XXXXXX) when calling from a mobile phone to avoid routing issues.

Numbering and Overlay Considerations

As of the latest ENACOM updates, there is no overlay code in the Zapala region, meaning that 2942 is the sole area code for this geographic area. The subscriber numbers are assigned by the local incumbent operator (Telecom Argentina) and other licensed fixed-line providers. If you are moving to this area, you may need to request a new line with a 2942 number. For callers, it is important to note that calls to 2942 numbers are billed as national long-distance calls when dialed from outside the area, unless you are within the local calling area.