Area Code 1115 – Addis Ababa

Overview of Area Code 1115 (Addis Ababa)

Area code 1115 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Addis Ababa metropolitan area, the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. This code is part of the national numbering plan administered by the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) under the framework of ITU-T E.164. The code 1115 is specifically used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within the city, serving both residential and business subscribers. Addis Ababa is the political, economic, and diplomatic hub of Ethiopia, hosting the African Union headquarters and numerous international organizations, which makes reliable telecommunication services critical.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 1115 code covers the administrative boundaries of the Addis Ababa City Administration, which is a chartered city with its own government. It includes all sub-cities and districts within the metropolitan area, such as Arada, Bole, Kirkos, Yeka, and others. The code is used for fixed-line connections, including traditional copper lines and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) services. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical location of the subscriber, meaning that the number is associated with a specific address within the city.

Dialing Format and Caller Instructions

For local callers within Ethiopia, the national dialing format requires the use of the trunk prefix 0 followed by the NDC and the subscriber number. For example, to call a fixed line in Addis Ababa with the number 1115-XXXXXX, you would dial: 011 115 XXXX (where XXXX is the four-digit subscriber number). Note that the NDC is 1115, but when dialed nationally, the leading 0 is added, and the code is often written as 01115 for local dialing. However, the official NDC is 1115, and the full national number is 0-1115-XXXXXX.

For international callers, you must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries), followed by the Ethiopia country code +251, then the NDC without the leading 0, and the subscriber number. For example, to call a number in Addis Ababa with the local number 1115-1234, you would dial: +251 1115 1234. This format is consistent with the E.164 standard, which requires the country code, NDC, and subscriber number to be concatenated without any leading zeros.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Addis Ababa; the 1115 code is the primary fixed-line code for the city. However, due to the increasing demand for telecommunication services, the ECA may introduce additional NDCs in the future. Subscribers within the 1115 area can call other fixed-line numbers in Addis Ababa using the same national format, and calls to mobile networks require the mobile prefix (e.g., 91, 92, 93, etc.) without the area code. It is important to note that fixed-line numbers in Ethiopia are not portable across geographic areas, so a number with the 1115 code will always be associated with Addis Ababa.

Practical Examples

• Local call (within Ethiopia): 011 115 5678
• International call (from abroad): +251 1115 5678
• Call from a mobile phone in Ethiopia: 011 115 5678 (same as landline-to-landline)

When dialing from a mobile phone, the same national format applies, as mobile networks require the trunk prefix and NDC for all fixed-line calls. For international callers, it is essential to omit the leading 0 and use the +251 country code. This ensures proper routing through international gateways.