Area Code 66 – Georgetown

Overview of Ascension Island +247 66

Ascension Island, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, is assigned the country calling code +247 by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under the E.164 standard. Within this small but strategically important island, the geographic area code 66 designates the capital and main settlement, Georgetown. This code is part of the island's Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and is used for fixed-line services in the Georgetown area.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 66 prefix covers Georgetown and its immediate surroundings, including the historic fort, the Ascension Island Government offices, and the main commercial and residential areas. As the administrative center, Georgetown hosts the island's primary government and business infrastructure. The numbering plan is administered by Sure South Atlantic, the designated carrier for Ascension Island, under the regulatory oversight of the UK's Office of Communications (Ofcom).

Dialing Formats

For international callers, the number format is +247 6XXX (or +247 66XX, depending on the local number length). When dialing from abroad, you must include the country code and omit any leading trunk prefix. For example, to call a fixed line in Georgetown, you would dial +247 6XXX from any international location.

Locally, callers within Ascension Island can dial the six-digit number directly, typically in the format 6XXXX (or 66XXX). No trunk prefix (such as '0') is used for domestic calls, as is common in many countries. The island does not use area codes for domestic dialing; the entire island is treated as a single numbering area.

Caller Instructions

• International callers: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries, or 011 from the US/Canada), followed by 247, then the six-digit local number beginning with 66. Example: 011 247 66XXXX from the US.
• Local callers: Dial the six-digit number directly, e.g., 66XXXX.

Overlays and Numbering Considerations

Given the small population (around 800 residents) and limited number of fixed lines, no overlay codes have been introduced. The numbering capacity is sufficient for current and foreseeable needs. The 66 prefix is exclusively geographic, tied to the physical location of the line. However, as with many remote territories, VoIP services may be used, but they are not assigned geographic codes.

For businesses or government entities in Georgetown, having a 66 prefix indicates a local presence and is essential for local communication. When contacting Ascension Island from abroad, always verify the correct number length (six digits) and use the full international format to avoid misdialing.