Area Code 2223 – Pool

Geographic Overview

The +242 2223 prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Pool Department of the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Pool is one of the country's 12 departments, situated in the southeastern part of the nation, encircling the capital Brazzaville. The department's administrative center is Kinkala, and it includes other notable localities such as Mindouli, Loutété, and Ngabe. The region is characterized by its proximity to the Congo River and its role as a gateway to the central highlands.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in the Pool region from within Congo-Brazzaville, subscribers dial the full national number, which includes the leading trunk prefix '0' followed by the NDC and the subscriber number. For example, a local call to a number in Kinkala would be dialed as 022 23 XX XX XX (the exact subscriber length may vary). From abroad, callers must use the international format: +242 22 23 XX XX XX, omitting the leading '0'. It is important to note that the Republic of the Congo adopted a new numbering plan in 2004, which introduced the current 9-digit format for fixed lines, with the first two digits after the country code representing the NDC.

Jurisdictional and Regulatory Notes

The prefix is administered by the Agence de Régulation des Postes et des Communications Électroniques (ARPCE), the national regulatory authority. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical location of the fixed-line service. However, with the increasing adoption of VoIP and fixed wireless access, some numbers may be used for nomadic services, but the numbering plan still associates them with the Pool department for routing and statistical purposes.

Caller Instructions

Local callers within Congo-Brazzaville should always include the trunk prefix '0' when dialing any fixed-line number, even if calling from a mobile phone. International callers must replace the '0' with the +242 country code. For example, to call a number in Mindouli from the United States, one would dial: 011 242 22 23 XX XX XX (or +242 22 23 XX XX XX from a mobile). Ensure you have the correct subscriber number, as the total length of the international format is 12 digits (including the country code).

Overlay and Future Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the Pool region; the 2223 prefix is unique to this department. However, as the demand for fixed-line services evolves, the ARPCE may introduce additional NDCs or reallocate numbering resources. Always verify the current dialing procedures with your telecom provider or the ARPCE if you experience routing issues.