Area Code 8942 – Perth
The phone area code for Perth is 8942 (international format +618942). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 8942
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of Perth
Geographic Coverage and Administration
The Australian telephone numbering plan, governed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), allocates geographic area codes within the +61 country calling code. The prefix 8942 is a National Destination Code (NDC) segment assigned to the Perth metropolitan region in Western Australia. Specifically, numbers beginning with 08 8942 are part of the larger 08 geographic area code, which covers Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Within this, the 8942 prefix is allocated to the Perth central business district and its immediate surrounding suburbs, including Northbridge, East Perth, West Perth, and Subiaco. This allocation follows the historical Central Office Code (COC) structure, where the first two digits after the area code (89) identify the Perth exchange area, and the subsequent digits (42) pinpoint the specific exchange or service node.
Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions
For local callers within Australia, the number is dialed as a full 10-digit national significant number: 08 8942 XXXX (where XXXX is the subscriber's four-digit line number). The leading '0' is the trunk prefix used for domestic calls. For international callers, the number must be dialed in the E.164 international format: +61 8 8942 XXXX. Note that the leading '0' of the national prefix is omitted, and the country code '61' is used. For example, a typical number in this range could be +61 8 8942 1234. When calling from a mobile phone within Australia, the full 10-digit number (including the '0') is required, even if the caller is in the same geographic region.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
The Perth metropolitan area is served by multiple exchanges, and the 8942 prefix is one of many within the 08 area code. There is no overlay code for Perth; the 08 area code is the sole geographic code for the entire state of Western Australia. However, due to the increasing demand for numbers, the ACMA has implemented number pooling and reclamation strategies to ensure efficient use of the numbering resource. As a result, some numbers within the 8942 range may have been reassigned or are used for non-geographic services such as VoIP, but the prefix remains fundamentally geographic in nature.
Services and Usage
Subscribers within the 8942 range are typically connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or integrated services digital network (ISDN) via fixed-line infrastructure. In recent years, many businesses and residents have migrated to VoIP services, but they retain their geographic numbers for continuity. The prefix is used by both residential and commercial entities, including offices, retail stores, and government agencies in Perth's central area. Calls to these numbers are charged according to the caller's plan, with local call rates applying for calls made within the same geographic area code.