Area Code 2861 – Meghri/Agarak, Syunik

Geographic Overview

The +374 2861 prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Meghri and Agarak area within the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. This region is located in the southernmost part of the country, bordering Iran to the south and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to the west. The code serves the urban centers of Meghri and Agarak, along with surrounding rural communities. As a fixed-line service, the prefix is used for traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connections, as well as VoIP services that are registered to a physical address in the area.

Dialing Formats

For callers within Armenia, the national trunk prefix '0' is used before the area code and subscriber number. The complete national format is 0 2861 XXXXX, where '0' is the trunk prefix, '2861' is the area code, and 'XXXXX' is the 5-digit local subscriber number. For example, a local number might be formatted as 0 2861 12345.

For international callers, the Armenian country code +374 is used, followed by the area code without the leading '0'. The international format is +374 2861 XXXXX. For instance, to call a number in Meghri from abroad, you would dial +374 2861 12345.

Calling Instructions

• Local calls within Meghri/Agarak: If you are physically within the same exchange area, you may be able to dial just the 5-digit subscriber number. However, due to varying local dialing practices, it is recommended to use the full national format (0 2861 XXXXX) to ensure connectivity.
• Calls from other Armenian regions: Dial 0 2861 XXXXX.
• Calls from abroad: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 00 or +), then 374 2861 XXXXX.

Regulatory and Technical Notes

Armenia's numbering plan is administered by the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC). The 2861 area code is part of the geographic numbering scheme, meaning that the tariff for calls to this prefix is typically based on the distance and the operator's pricing policy. As of recent years, number portability is available for fixed-line services within Armenia, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators, though the geographic significance of the prefix remains. For emergency services or directory assistance, callers should use the national emergency numbers (e.g., 101 for fire, 102 for police, 103 for ambulance) regardless of the area code.

When dialing from a mobile phone within Armenia, it is essential to include the '0' trunk prefix even though mobile networks often handle national calls seamlessly. For international VoIP users, ensure that your service provider supports calls to Armenian geographic numbers and that you have correctly entered the country code and area code without any leading zeros.