Area Code 24 – Francistown

Overview of Botswana Area Code 24

Area code 24 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to Francistown, Botswana's second-largest city and the administrative capital of the North-East District. This code covers the city itself and its surrounding suburban and peri-urban areas, including the industrial zones and residential neighborhoods that form the Francistown metropolitan area. As part of Botswana's national numbering plan, which adheres to ITU-T E.164 recommendations, the code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, though some VoIP and fixed-wireless operators may also allocate numbers under this NDC.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Francistown is a major commercial and transportation hub located in eastern Botswana, near the border with Zimbabwe. The 24 NDC encompasses the city's central business district, residential areas such as Monarch, Somerset West, and Bluebell, as well as the Tati River settlements. It also serves nearby villages and settlements that rely on Francistown's infrastructure, including areas along the A1 highway. The code is managed under the jurisdiction of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), which oversees all numbering resources in the country.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

To call a fixed-line number in Francistown from within Botswana, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 24 and the subscriber's seven-digit number. For example, a local number might be formatted as 0 24 XXX XXXX. When dialing from a mobile phone within Botswana, the same format applies. For international callers, the country calling code for Botswana is +267, so the number should be dialed as +267 24 XXX XXXX (omitting the leading '0'). It is important to note that Botswana's numbering plan uses fixed seven-digit subscriber numbers for geographic areas, and there are no overlay codes currently in effect for Francistown; the 24 NDC is the sole geographic code for the city.

Call Routing and Number Portability

Fixed-line numbers under the 24 NDC are traditionally associated with Botswana's incumbent operator, Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL), but since market liberalization, other licensed fixed-line operators may also use these numbers. Number portability is available in Botswana, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when switching service providers, but the geographic significance of the code remains for routing purposes. Calls to Francistown from other parts of Botswana are charged at national rates, while international calls are billed according to the caller's international tariff. Emergency services and directory assistance are accessed via short codes that are independent of the area code.