Area Code 1139 – Addis Ababa

Overview of Area Code 1139 (Addis Ababa)

Area code 1139 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the central part of Addis Ababa, 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, and when dialing a fixed-line subscriber within the 1139 area, the complete international number format is +251 1139 XXX XX (or +2511139XXXXX, where the last five digits represent the subscriber number).

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 1139 code is allocated to the Addis Ababa City Administration, which is a chartered city with its own charter and administrative structure, distinct from the surrounding Oromia Special Zone. It covers central business districts, government offices, embassies, and residential neighborhoods within the city's core. Key areas served include Arada, Kirkos, and parts of Yeka and Bole sub-cities. The code is used for traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, as well as some fixed wireless and VoIP-based services that are geolocated to this region.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Ethiopia, the national trunk prefix is 0. Therefore, to call a number in the 1139 area from another region in Ethiopia, you must dial 0 1139 XXX XX. For example, a local number might be 01139 12345 (where the last five digits are the subscriber number). When dialing from a mobile phone within Ethiopia, the same format applies (0 followed by the NDC and subscriber number).

For international callers, you must drop the leading 0 and use the country code +251. Thus, the same number would be dialed as +251 1139 12345 from any country. It is crucial to note that the Ethiopian numbering plan uses a variable subscriber number length; for 1139, the subscriber number is five digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) length nine digits (including the leading 0).

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the 1139 area; it remains a standalone geographic code. However, as part of the Ethiopian Communications Authority's (ECA) numbering plan, some fixed-line numbers in Addis Ababa may have been migrated or reassigned due to network expansions. Always verify the current number with the subscriber or service provider, as number portability for fixed lines is not yet widely implemented.

Practical Examples for Callers

• Local call (within Addis Ababa): If you are in the same area code, you may dial only the subscriber number (e.g., 12345), but it is safer to dial the full national format (01139 12345) to avoid misrouting.
• National long-distance call (from outside Addis Ababa): Dial 01139 12345.
• International call (from abroad): Dial your country's exit code, then 251 1139 12345 (e.g., from the US/Canada: 011 251 1139 12345; from the UK/Europe: 00 251 1139 12345).

Understanding these formats ensures reliable connectivity for both business and personal communications with central Addis Ababa.