Area Code 496 – Ozurgeti

Overview of Ozurgeti's Geographic Code 496

Area code 496 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the city of Ozurgeti and its surrounding administrative district within the Guria region of Georgia. As a geographic code, it is allocated under the Georgian national numbering plan (ITU-T E.164 country code +995) and routes calls to fixed-line subscribers served by the local PSTN infrastructure. Ozurgeti serves as the administrative center of Guria, and the code covers the urban area as well as adjacent rural localities that fall under the same local exchange area.

Dialing Formats and Usage

To call a fixed-line number in Ozurgeti from within Georgia, subscribers must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 496 and the subscriber's seven-digit local number. For example, a local number such as 1234567 would be dialed as 0 496 1234567 from any other region in Georgia. When calling from abroad, the international access prefix (typically 00 or +) is used, followed by Georgia's country code 995, then the area code 496 (without the leading trunk prefix 0), and the seven-digit subscriber number. Thus, the international format becomes +995 496 1234567.

For callers within the same local area, it may be possible to dial only the seven-digit subscriber number, depending on the operator's local dialing rules. However, for clarity and to avoid misdialing, it is recommended to always include the trunk prefix and area code when dialing from a mobile phone or from a different fixed-line zone.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 496 code is assigned to the Ozurgeti municipality, which encompasses the city of Ozurgeti and its surrounding villages, including areas such as Dvabzu, Laituri, and Shemokmedi. The region is part of the Guria administrative region in western Georgia, bordered by the Black Sea to the west and the Lesser Caucasus mountains to the east. Fixed-line services in this area are primarily provided by the incumbent operator, but alternative operators may also offer services using this code. As with all geographic codes in Georgia, the 496 prefix is tied to the physical location of the subscriber's line, and number portability may allow subscribers to retain their numbers when moving within the same geographic area, subject to regulatory provisions.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Georgia): Dial 0 496 followed by the seven-digit local number.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 or +), then 995 496, followed by the seven-digit local number.
• Mobile callers: When calling a fixed line in Ozurgeti from a Georgian mobile phone, always include the trunk prefix 0 before the area code.

It is important to note that the 496 code is not used for mobile services; mobile numbers in Georgia are identified by distinct prefixes (e.g., 5xx, 7xx) and are non-geographic. If you receive a call from a number starting with +995 496, it originates from a fixed line in the Ozurgeti area.