Area Code 317 – Gaborone

Overview of Botswana Area Code 317

Area code 317 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone, and its immediate surrounding areas. It is part of the country's public switched telephone network (PSTN) numbering plan, administered under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) E.164 standard. The full international dialing format for a fixed-line number in Gaborone is +267 317 XXXX, where +267 is Botswana's country calling code and XXXX represents the subscriber's four-digit line number.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 317 code serves the Gaborone metropolitan area, which is the political and economic hub of Botswana. This includes the central business district, government precincts, and residential neighborhoods such as the Gaborone West, Gaborone North, and Broadhurst areas. As the seat of the national government, many ministries, embassies, and corporate headquarters are located within this code. The code is allocated to fixed-line services, typically provided by Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL), the incumbent operator, though other licensed fixed-line operators may also use it.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Botswana, the local dialing format is 317 XXXX (without the country code). For international callers, the format is +267 317 XXXX (or 00267 317 XXXX from countries using the international prefix 00). When dialing from a mobile phone in Botswana, it is essential to include the area code even if the destination is in the same city, as mobile networks require full national numbering. Overlay considerations: Botswana has not implemented overlay codes for Gaborone; the 317 code remains unique for fixed lines in the capital. However, users should note that mobile numbers in Botswana begin with 7X (e.g., 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77), so 317 is exclusively for fixed lines.

Practical Examples

• Local call (within Botswana): 317 1234
• International call (from outside Botswana): +267 317 1234
• Call from a mobile in Botswana: 317 1234 (must include the area code)

For businesses or individuals in Gaborone, it is crucial to display numbers in international format on websites and marketing materials to facilitate global reach. When dialing from a foreign country, always replace the leading zero (if any) with the +267 country code. Since Botswana uses a closed numbering plan, the national significant number (NSN) is eight digits, with the first three digits being the area code and the last five being the subscriber number (though in practice, the subscriber number is often presented as four digits after the code, with the full NSN being 317XXXXX? Actually, the standard is 7-digit subscriber numbers in some areas, but for Gaborone, the NSN is 8 digits: 317 + 5 digits? Let's clarify: In Botswana, fixed numbers are 7 digits long, with the area code being 2 or 3 digits. For Gaborone, the area code is 3 digits (317), and the subscriber number is 4 digits, making the total NSN 7 digits. So the format is +267 317 XXXX, which is correct. Always verify with the local telecom regulator for any changes.