Area Code 4 – South-East Region & Corsica
The phone area code for South-East Region & Corsica is 4 (international format +33 4). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📞 Exchange Codes (NXX) for Area Code 4
Select a central office code to view local carrier data and detailed information
📍 Geographic Location of South-East Region & Corsica
Geographic Coverage and Regulatory Framework
The French national numbering plan, administered by the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la distribution de la presse (ARCEP), allocates geographic numbers beginning with +33 4 to the South-East region of metropolitan France, including the island of Corsica. This area encompasses major urban centers such as Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Toulon, Grenoble, Saint-Étienne, and Avignon, along with their surrounding departments (e.g., Bouches-du-Rhône, Rhône, Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Isère, Haute-Savoie). The prefix is strictly geographic, meaning that the tariff and routing are tied to a physical location, although number portability allows subscribers to retain their number when moving within France.
Dialing Formats and Number Structure
French geographic numbers consist of ten digits in national format, always beginning with 0 when dialed domestically. For the +33 4 region, the national format is 04 XX XX XX XX. When dialing from abroad, the leading 0 is omitted, and the country code +33 is used, resulting in +33 4 XX XX XX XX. For example, a fixed line in Marseille might be 04 91 XX XX XX locally, which becomes +33 4 91 XX XX XX for an international caller. It is important to note that the second digit after the area code (the '9' in the example) often indicates a more specific sub-region or city, but this is not a strict rule due to number pooling and overlay practices.
Caller Instructions and Practical Considerations
- Local callers within France must always dial the full 10-digit number, including the leading 0, even when calling from a number in the same geographic area. There is no local dialing shortcut.
- International callers should replace the leading 0 with +33. For instance, to call a number in Nice, dial +33 4 93 XX XX XX.
- Overlay and portability: Since 1996, number portability has been mandatory, so a number starting with 04 may be served by a different operator than originally assigned. However, the geographic significance remains for routing and emergency services.
- Emergency services within this region are reached via short codes (e.g., 15, 17, 18, 112) and are not affected by the geographic prefix.
For businesses and individuals, understanding the correct international format is essential for seamless connectivity. Always verify the complete number before dialing, as the +33 4 prefix covers a vast and densely populated area.