Area Code 5576 – Hohenems

Overview of Area Code 5576 (Hohenems, Austria)

Austrian area code 5576 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the westernmost federal state of Vorarlberg. It specifically serves the municipality of Hohenems and its immediate surroundings, including the districts of Emsreute, Schwefel, and Oberklien. Hohenems is situated in the Rhine Valley, close to the borders of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and is part of the greater Bregenz urban area.

This code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) and Voice over IP (VoIP) services that are physically or administratively located within this exchange area. As with all geographic codes in Austria, the prefix is tied to a specific location, but number portability allows subscribers to retain their 5576 number when moving within Austria, provided the service provider supports it.

Dialing Formats

When calling a number in Hohenems from within Austria, the trunk prefix 0 is used, followed by the area code and the subscriber's local number. The local numbers in this area consist of 5 to 7 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length between 9 and 11 digits (including the leading 0).

• National dialing (from within Austria): 0 5576 [local number]
• International dialing (from abroad): +43 5576 [local number]

For example, if a local number is 12345, you would dial 05576 12345 from a mobile or fixed line in Austria, or +43 5576 12345 from any other country. When dialing internationally, the leading '0' of the trunk prefix is omitted.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

Hohenems is a historic town with a population of approximately 16,000. The area code 5576 is administered by the Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications (RTR-GmbH) and is allocated to various fixed-line operators, including A1 Telekom Austria, Magenta Telekom, and alternative VoIP providers. The code is part of the Vorarlberg numbering plan, which uses area codes starting with 55 (e.g., 5574 for Dornbirn, 5572 for Bregenz).

For callers from abroad, it is essential to use the international format with the +43 country code and drop the initial zero. For local callers within Hohenems, short dialing may be possible, but it is not standardized across all providers; therefore, it is recommended to always use the full national format.

Overlays and Special Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for 5576, meaning that the area code is unique to Hohenems and does not share numbering resources with other regions. However, due to number portability, a number with this prefix may be served by an exchange located elsewhere in Austria. This does not affect the cost of calls, which are typically priced as national fixed-line calls, but it is a factor for businesses that rely on location-based services.

For emergency services, dialing 112 or 122 (fire), 133 (police), and 144 (ambulance) works regardless of the area code. When calling from abroad, always use the +43 country code for any Austrian number.