Area Code 5544 – Bureng

Geographic Overview

The +220 5544 prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Bureng exchange within the Republic of The Gambia. Bureng is a settlement located in the Lower River Division, approximately 150 kilometers east of the capital, Banjul, along the southern bank of the Gambia River. This code serves the fixed-line PSTN infrastructure in Bureng and its immediate surrounding rural communities, including nearby villages such as Sankandi and Jarra West. As part of the Gambian numbering plan, the +220 country code is followed by a seven-digit subscriber number, of which the first four digits (5544) identify the geographic exchange area.

Dialing Formats

For international callers, the complete number must be dialed in the format +220 5544 XXX, where XXX represents the local subscriber's unique line number. For example, a call to a Bureng landline would be dialed as +220 5544 123 from any country outside The Gambia. Within The Gambia, callers must dial the full seven-digit number without the country code: 5544 123. Note that The Gambia does not use trunk prefixes (such as '0') for domestic calls; the NDC and subscriber number are always dialed together.

Regulatory and Technical Notes

The Gambia's telecommunications regulator, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), oversees the allocation of geographic numbering resources. The 5544 prefix is exclusively assigned to fixed-line services provided by the incumbent operator, Gamtel, and any licensed alternative local exchange operators. Geographic numbers in The Gambia are not portable across different geographic areas; however, number portability within the same exchange may be available. Calls to Bureng are routed via the national PSTN and are subject to standard international settlement rates when dialed from abroad.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within The Gambia): Dial the seven-digit number directly, e.g., 5544 123.
• International callers: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries, or +), followed by the Gambian country code 220, then the seven-digit number: +220 5544 123.
• Emergency and service numbers: Always verify the correct local emergency numbers (e.g., police, fire) as they are separate from geographic prefixes.

When storing contacts, it is recommended to use the international format (+220 5544 XXX) to ensure proper dialing from any location. As The Gambia continues to modernize its telecom infrastructure, fixed-line services in rural areas like Bureng remain vital for businesses, government offices, and residents, though mobile penetration is higher nationwide.