Area Code 1146 – Addis Ababa

Overview of +251 1146

The country calling code +251 is assigned to Ethiopia under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. The national destination code (NDC) 1146 is a geographic allocation for the capital city, Addis Ababa. Specifically, this prefix is part of the 11xx series used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within the city and its immediate administrative zones. The full international dialing format is +251 1146 XXX XX, where the trailing digits represent the subscriber number. When dialed domestically from within Ethiopia, the trunk prefix 0 is used, so the number appears as 01146 XXX XX.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Addis Ababa is a chartered city and the federal capital of Ethiopia, functioning as its own administrative region. The 1146 prefix is assigned to subscribers located within the city's boundaries, covering central business districts, government offices, embassies, and residential areas. The city is divided into sub-cities, and while the 1146 code does not map to a single sub-city, it is used across multiple districts served by the incumbent operator, Ethio Telecom. The code is not portable to other regions; it remains tied to the physical location of the fixed-line connection.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Ethiopia, the local dialing format is 01146 XXX XX. This includes the trunk prefix 0 followed by the NDC 1146 and the subscriber number. For international callers, the format is +251 1146 XXX XX (or 00251 1146 XXX XX using the international access code from many countries). The Ethiopian numbering plan uses closed dialing, meaning the full national significant number (NSN) is 9 digits, including the leading 0 for domestic calls. There is no area code overlay in Addis Ababa; the 11xx series is used exclusively for the capital, while other regions have distinct codes (e.g., 22 for Dire Dawa, 33 for Harar).

Technical Considerations

Fixed-line numbers under 1146 are primarily used for voice calls, fax, and legacy PSTN services. With the expansion of VoIP and mobile services, some businesses may route calls to these numbers via IP-based trunks, but the geographic nature of the code remains unchanged. When calling from a mobile phone in Ethiopia, the same domestic format applies. For international SMS, these numbers are not typically used, as SMS is primarily a mobile service. Number portability is not yet widely implemented in Ethiopia, so a number with the 1146 prefix will generally remain associated with the original fixed-line service provider.