Area Code 18 – Sumgayit

Overview of Azerbaijan's +994 18 Geographic Code

The country calling code +994 is assigned to Azerbaijan under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. Within this national plan, the geographic area code 18 serves as the National Destination Code (NDC) for the city of Sumgayit and its surrounding administrative district. Sumgayit is a major industrial center located on the Caspian Sea coast, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of the capital, Baku. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, and it is essential for both domestic and international callers to understand the correct dialing procedures.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 18 code is allocated to the Sumgayit City District, which includes the city itself and adjacent settlements. As a geographic code, it is tied to a physical location, and calls are routed based on the subscriber's registered address. The numbering area is administered by the national regulatory authority, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which oversees the allocation of numbering resources to licensed fixed-line operators.

Dialing Formats: Local and International

For callers within Azerbaijan, dialing a Sumgayit fixed-line number requires the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. The national significant number (NSN) for Sumgayit numbers is typically 8 digits, comprising the area code (18) and a 6-digit subscriber number. The local dialing format is:

• National format: 0 18 XXX XXX
• Example: To call a Sumgayit number 345678, dial 018 345678 from anywhere in Azerbaijan.

For international callers, the trunk prefix is omitted, and the country code is used. The international format is:

• International format: +994 18 XXX XXX
• Example: To call the same number from abroad, dial +994 18 345678.

Note that the leading '0' in the national format is not dialed when calling from outside Azerbaijan.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Sumgayit; the 18 code is exclusive to the region. However, due to the growth of fixed-line services, the number of digits may vary, and some operators may use 7-digit subscriber numbers. Always verify the exact number length with the local directory or the called party. For callers using VoIP or mobile phones, the same international format applies, but ensure that the '+' sign is used when dialing from a mobile device to indicate the international access code.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Sumgayit, it is possible to dial the subscriber number directly without the area code if the call is within the same exchange, but this is not guaranteed. To avoid confusion, it is recommended to always use the full national format. For foreign callers, check with your telecom provider for any restrictions on calling Azerbaijan, and be aware of international calling rates. When dialing from a mobile phone, you can use the '+' sign instead of the international access code (e.g., +994 18 345678).