Area Code 6044 – Medellín

Overview of Colombia's Geographic Code 6044

In Colombia's national numbering plan, as administered by the Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (MinTIC) and regulated under ITU-T E.164, the geographic area code 604 designates the department of Antioquia, with its principal city being Medellín. The prefix 6044 is a central office (exchange) code within this geographic area, serving specific districts of Medellín and its metropolitan area. This code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, and it is geographically tied to the physical location of the subscriber's line.

Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 604 area code covers the entire department of Antioquia, including the Aburrá Valley metropolitan area. The specific 6044 exchange is typically allocated to neighborhoods in the central and eastern parts of Medellín, such as El Poblado, La Candelaria, and surrounding areas. It may also serve some municipalities in the near metropolitan region, depending on the network architecture of the local incumbent operator (UNE EPM Telecomunicaciones) and other carriers that have been assigned blocks within this exchange.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

For callers within Colombia, the national significant number (NSN) for a fixed line in Medellín is 10 digits long, beginning with the area code 604 followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. The prefix 6044 constitutes the first four digits of the subscriber number. To call a number such as 604 4XX XXXX from within Colombia, you must dial the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and subscriber number: 0 604 4XX XXXX. For example, a local call from another city in Colombia would be dialed as 0 604 444 5678.

For international callers, you must dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), followed by Colombia's country code 57, the area code without the leading trunk prefix, and the subscriber number. The international format is +57 604 4XX XXXX. For instance, a caller from abroad would dial +57 604 444 5678 to reach a fixed line in Medellín with the 6044 exchange.

Overlay Considerations and Number Portability

Colombia does not currently have overlay area codes in the traditional sense; the 604 area code is the sole geographic code for Antioquia. However, mobile number portability and fixed-line number portability are in effect, meaning that a number starting with 6044 could, in rare cases, be ported to a different operator or even to a different region, but the geographic significance remains for routing purposes. When dialing, always use the full national or international format to ensure proper routing.

Practical Tips for Callers

• When calling from a mobile phone in Colombia, you may omit the trunk prefix 0 and dial 604 4XX XXXX directly, as mobile networks handle the routing automatically.
• If you are unsure whether a number is fixed or mobile, note that Colombian mobile numbers always begin with 3 (e.g., 300, 310, 320), so a number starting with 604 is definitively a fixed line.
• For international callers, be mindful of time zones: Colombia operates on UTC-5 (COT) and does not observe daylight saving time.