Area Code 246 – Amasia, Shirak

Overview of Area Code +374 246

Area code 246 is a geographic destination code within the Armenian national numbering plan, assigned to the town of Amasia and its surrounding rural communities in the Shirak Province (Shirak Marz). This region is located in the northwestern part of Armenia, near the border with Turkey and Georgia, and is part of the broader historical and administrative area centered around the city of Gyumri. The code follows the ITU-T E.164 international numbering standard, ensuring interoperability with global telecommunications networks.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 246 area code serves the Amasia community, which includes the town of Amasia and adjacent villages such as Berdashen, Gtashen, and others within the Shirak Province. Shirak Province is one of Armenia's ten administrative regions (marzes), with its capital in Gyumri, the country's second-largest city. Amasia itself is a small town situated in a high-altitude valley, known for its proximity to the Akhurian River and the historical fortress of Amasia. The region is primarily agricultural, with limited industrial activity, and the local telecommunications infrastructure supports both fixed-line and mobile services, although fixed-line penetration is relatively low compared to urban centers.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Armenia, dialing a number in the 246 area code requires the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and the local subscriber number. The national significant number (NSN) for geographic numbers in Armenia is 8 digits, consisting of the area code (2 or 3 digits) and a local number (5 or 6 digits). For Amasia, the local numbers are typically 5 digits, making the complete national format: 0 246 XX XX XX (where X represents a digit). An example of a local call from Yerevan would be: 0 246 3 45 67.

For international callers, the Armenian country code is +374, and the leading trunk prefix '0' is omitted. Thus, the international dialing format is +374 246 XX XX XX. For instance, a caller from the United States would dial: 011 374 246 3 45 67 (using the US exit code 011). From most European countries, the exit code is '00', so the sequence would be 00 374 246 3 45 67.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T and Armenian regulatory updates, there is no overlay plan for the 246 area code; it remains a distinct geographic code. However, the Armenian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (PSRC) has implemented mobile number portability (MNP) and geographic number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators or moving within certain limits. For fixed-line services, the area code is tied to the physical location, and calls are routed via the PSTN. With the increasing adoption of VoIP and mobile services, some users may use non-geographic numbers, but 246 remains a reliable indicator of a caller's geographic origin.

Practical Tips for Callers

• Local calls: Within Amasia, you may need to dial the full national number (0 246 ...) depending on the local exchange; always check with your service provider.
• International calls: Always replace the leading '0' with the country code +374 when dialing from abroad.
• Mobile calls: Mobile numbers in Armenia start with 77, 91, 93, 94, 98, etc., and are not tied to geographic area codes; ensure you are dialing a fixed-line number if you intend to reach Amasia.
• Time zone: Armenia is UTC+4 (no daylight saving), so plan your calls accordingly.