Area Code 1123 – Addis Ababa

Overview of Ethiopia's Geographic Code 1123

Geographic code 1123 is a National Destination Code (NDC) segment assigned to the Addis Ababa metropolitan area, the capital and largest city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan, the full country calling code for Ethiopia is +251. When dialing a landline subscriber within the 1123 area, the international format is +251 1123 XXX XXX (where X represents the subscriber's unique line number). Domestically, callers within Ethiopia must dial the trunk prefix 0 before the area code, resulting in 0 1123 XXX XXX.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 1123 code covers a specific zone within Addis Ababa, which is both a chartered city and the seat of the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The city is administratively divided into sub-cities and districts (woredas). The 1123 prefix is typically allocated to fixed-line services (PSTN) provided by Ethio Telecom, the state-owned incumbent operator. While the code is geographically tied to central and southern parts of the city, the exact boundaries may not align perfectly with administrative lines due to historical network expansion and number exhaustion. As of the latest numbering plan, no overlay codes have been introduced for Addis Ababa; however, the city uses multiple area codes (e.g., 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116) to accommodate the high demand for fixed lines.

Dialing Instructions

• Local callers (within Ethiopia): Dial 0 1123 XXX XXX. The leading 0 is the national trunk prefix and is not included when dialing from abroad.
• International callers (outside Ethiopia): Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 or +), then 251 1123 XXX XXX. Do not include the leading 0.
• Within Addis Ababa: Even if you are calling from a mobile phone or another landline in the same city, you must still include the full national number (0 1123 XXX XXX) because the numbering plan requires area code dialing for all fixed-line calls.

Numbering Structure and Format

Ethiopian fixed-line numbers are typically 9 digits long after the trunk prefix (0). For the 1123 area, the format is 0 1123 XXX XXX, where the NDC is 1123 (4 digits) and the subscriber number is 6 digits. This structure allows for up to 1,000,000 unique numbers per NDC. The subscriber number is usually allocated in blocks to businesses and residences. It is important to note that number portability for fixed lines is not yet widely implemented in Ethiopia, so the geographic association remains strong.

Practical Considerations for Callers

When calling a number with the 1123 prefix, be aware that call charges may vary depending on your telecom provider and the destination. Calls from mobile networks to fixed lines are typically charged at a higher rate than mobile-to-mobile calls. For international callers, using VoIP services or calling cards can reduce costs. Always verify the complete number with the recipient, as missing digits or incorrect area codes can result in failed connections or unintended destinations.