Area Code 231 – Georgetown

Overview of Area Code 231

Area code 231 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital city of Georgetown, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region of Guyana. It serves the central business district and surrounding residential neighborhoods, including key landmarks such as the Stabroek Market, the Guyana Parliament Building, and the University of Guyana's Turkeyen campus. As part of the country's E.164 numbering plan, this code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services provided by the incumbent operator, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), as well as by alternative licensed carriers offering local loop services.

Dialing Formats and Usage

When calling a fixed-line number in Georgetown from within Guyana, subscribers must dial the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and the subscriber number. For example, a local call to a number in Georgetown would be placed as 0-231-XXXXX, where XXXXX represents the five-digit local extension. However, callers from outside Guyana must use the international access prefix (typically 00 or +), followed by Guyana's country code 592, the area code without the leading zero, and the subscriber number. Thus, an international caller would dial +592 231 XXXXX.

It is important to note that Guyana operates a closed numbering plan for fixed lines, meaning the area code is always required even for local calls within Georgetown. This is a departure from some countries where local calls can be made using only the subscriber number. The five-digit subscriber number within area code 231 provides a total capacity of 100,000 unique numbers, though not all are currently assigned.

Geographic Coverage and Overlays

Area code 231 is geographically confined to the Georgetown metropolitan area. As of the latest numbering plan updates, there are no overlay codes in Guyana; each geographic region retains its own distinct NDC. This simplifies dialing for both domestic and international callers, as there is no ambiguity regarding the destination of a call based on the area code alone. The code is administered by the Guyana Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which oversees the allocation and management of numbering resources in accordance with ITU-T E.164 recommendations.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Guyana): Dial 0-231-XXXXX for any fixed-line number in Georgetown.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code, then 592, then 231, followed by the five-digit subscriber number. For example, from the United States, dial 011-592-231-XXXXX.
• Mobile to fixed: When calling from a Guyanese mobile phone, you must still include the trunk prefix 0 and the area code; the network will route the call accordingly.

For businesses or individuals setting up services in Georgetown, it is advisable to verify the exact subscriber number length with the service provider, as porting between fixed-line operators may occasionally alter the routing but not the dialing format.