Area Code 1148 – Addis Ababa

Overview of Area Code 1148 (Addis Ababa)

Area code 1148 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 international dialing format for a fixed-line subscriber in this area is +251 1148 XXX XXX (or +2511148XXXXXX when written without spaces). Domestically, callers within Ethiopia dial 01148 XXXXXX from other regions, while local calls within the same exchange may require only the six-digit subscriber number, depending on the incumbent operator’s local dialing procedures.

Addis Ababa is administered as a chartered city and serves as the seat of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The 1148 prefix covers central business and government districts, including areas around Meskel Square, Bole Road (partially), and the historic Arada district. It is important to note that Ethiopia operates a closed dialing plan, meaning the trunk prefix 0 and the NDC are always included for domestic long-distance calls, even when dialing from a mobile phone.

Dialing Instructions

• International callers (outside Ethiopia): Dial +251 1148 XXX XXX. Replace the leading zero of the NDC with the country code +251.
• Domestic callers (outside Addis Ababa): Dial 0 1148 XXX XXX.
• Local callers (within Addis Ababa): Dial 01148 XXXXXX (the full national number).

For example, a landline number in the 1148 area might be +251 1148 123 456 or 01148 123456 domestically.

Network and Numbering Considerations

The 1148 prefix is allocated to fixed-line services provided by Ethio Telecom, the state-owned monopoly operator. As of 2025, no overlay codes have been introduced for Addis Ababa; the city uses a range of NDCs (e.g., 111, 112, 113, 115, 116) to accommodate growth. Subscriber numbers in the 1148 range are typically 6 digits long, resulting in a total national significant number length of 9 digits (excluding the trunk prefix).

Because Ethiopia has not yet implemented number portability for fixed lines, the 1148 prefix remains tied to the physical location and the operator. Businesses seeking a presence in the capital often choose numbers with this prefix to establish a local identity. However, with the growth of VoIP and IP-based services, some numbers may be routed over next-generation networks, but the geographic association remains for regulatory and emergency services purposes.

For accurate billing and routing, always confirm the number length and dialing format with your telecom provider. International callers should note that Ethiopia’s international dialing code is +251, and the country uses the Ethiopian Birr (ETB) for local call pricing.