Area Code 390 – Gaborone

Geographic Overview

The area code 390 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Gaborone, the capital and largest city of Botswana. Gaborone serves as the administrative, economic, and cultural hub of the country, hosting government institutions, international embassies, and major corporate headquarters. The 390 prefix covers the central business district and surrounding residential areas, including neighborhoods such as the CBD, Government Enclave, and parts of the Greater Gaborone metropolitan area.

Dialing Formats

When calling a landline number in Gaborone from within Botswana, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber number. The national significant number (NSN) for geographic numbers in Botswana is 8 digits, with the area code being 3 digits and the subscriber number 5 digits. Thus, a typical local number in the 390 area appears as:

• Local dialing (within Botswana): 0 390 XXXXX
• International dialing (from abroad): +267 390 XXXXX

For example, if the subscriber number is 12345, the local format would be 039012345, and the international format would be +26739012345. When calling from a mobile phone within Botswana, the same local format applies, but the leading 0 is often omitted if the network automatically adds it; however, it is safe to include it.

Caller Instructions

For callers within Botswana: Simply dial the 8-digit national number starting with 0. For instance, to call a Gaborone number, dial 0390 12345. For international callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most countries, or 011 from the US/Canada), followed by Botswana's country code 267, then the area code 390 and the subscriber number, omitting the leading 0. Example: 00 267 390 12345.

Regulatory and Technical Notes

Botswana's numbering plan is administered by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) in accordance with ITU-T E.164 recommendations. Geographic area codes are allocated based on administrative districts, and Gaborone is assigned multiple NDCs to accommodate its large subscriber base. The 390 code is part of the Gaborone numbering range, and no overlay code has been introduced; therefore, all numbers within this area share the same geographic tariff and routing. As of the latest updates, there are no plans to change the dialing procedures.

For businesses and residents, it is important to note that landline numbers in Botswana are not portable across geographic areas; if you move outside the 390 area, you will need to obtain a new number with the appropriate local area code. VoIP services may offer virtual numbers with 390 prefixes, allowing businesses to maintain a Gaborone presence regardless of their physical location, but such services must comply with BOCRA regulations.