Area Code 4482 – Brikama/Kanilia

Overview of +220 4482

The country calling code +220 is assigned to the Republic of The Gambia under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. Within the national numbering plan, the prefix 4482 is a geographic area code serving the western region of the country, specifically the towns of Brikama and Kanilia. Brikama is the largest city in the Western Division (now West Coast Region) and serves as an important administrative and commercial hub. Kanilia, located nearby, is part of the same local exchange area.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 4482 code is allocated to the Brikama/Kanilia exchange, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Gambia Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). This area is part of the country's fixed-line telephone network, historically operated by Gamtel, the incumbent national operator. The coverage zone includes Brikama town, surrounding villages, and the Kanilia district. As with most Gambian geographic codes, the prefix is tied to a specific physical exchange, and the service is delivered over traditional PSTN infrastructure.

Dialing Formats and Usage

To call a fixed-line number in Brikama or Kanilia from abroad, you must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries), followed by the Gambian country code 220, then the area code 4482 and the subscriber's local number. For example, a local number might be 4482 123, and the full international format would be +220 4482 123. When dialing from within The Gambia, the trunk prefix '0' is not used; callers simply dial the area code and subscriber number directly: 4482 123. It is important to note that Gambian fixed-line numbers typically have seven digits in total, including the area code, but the exact length may vary. Always confirm the complete number with the recipient.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest available data, there is no overlay code for the Brikama/Kanilia area, meaning that the 4482 prefix is unique to this geographic region. However, due to the growth of mobile telephony and VoIP services, the distinction between geographic and non-geographic numbers is becoming less relevant for consumers. Nevertheless, for fixed-line services, the geographic prefix remains a key indicator of the caller's location.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within The Gambia, simply dial the seven-digit number (e.g., 4482 123). For international callers, always use the plus sign (+) or the appropriate international access code, followed by 220 and the full number. Ensure you drop any leading '0' that might appear in local listings, as Gambian numbers do not use a trunk prefix. When calling from a mobile phone, it is often easier to store numbers in international format to avoid confusion.