Area Code 97 – Qaanaaq

Overview of Greenland Area Code 97

Area code 97 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the town of Qaanaaq, formerly known as Thule, in the Avannaata municipality of northwestern Greenland. This code is part of the Greenlandic numbering plan under the ITU-T E.164 country calling code +299. Qaanaaq is one of the world's northernmost inhabited communities, and its telecommunication services are provided primarily by Tusass (formerly TELE Greenland).

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 97 prefix covers the Qaanaaq area, including the main settlement and its immediate surroundings. It does not extend to other towns or settlements; each Greenlandic town has its own dedicated area code (e.g., 2 for Nuuk, 3 for Qaqortoq, 4 for Maniitsoq, etc.). The Avannaata municipality, which includes Qaanaaq, also uses other codes for towns like Upernavik (96) and Ilulissat (94).

Dialing Formats

Greenland uses a closed numbering plan for local calls: within Greenland, you dial the full 8-digit subscriber number, which includes the two-digit area code. For example, to call a landline in Qaanaaq, you would dial 97 XX XX XX (where X represents the local subscriber digits).

For international callers, the format is: +299 97 XX XX XX. The leading '+' indicates the international access prefix, followed by the country code 299, then the area code 97, and the 6-digit local number. From most countries, you can replace '+' with the international access code (e.g., 00 from Europe, 011 from North America).

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Greenland): Dial the 8-digit number directly, e.g., 97 12 34 56.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code, then 299, then 97, then the local number. For example, from the United States, dial 011 299 97 12 34 56.
• Callers from Greenland to other countries: Dial 00, then the destination country code, area code, and local number.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Greenland does not currently use overlay codes; each geographic area has a unique two-digit code. The numbering plan is managed by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Greenland, and number lengths are fixed at 8 digits for all fixed and mobile services. Mobile numbers in Greenland begin with 2, 4, 5, or 6, so 97 is exclusively for fixed-line services in Qaanaaq.

As Qaanaaq is a remote settlement, telecommunication infrastructure may rely on satellite links, but the dialing format remains consistent. For any technical issues, local customers should contact Tusass customer service.