Area Code 551 – Tarakan
The phone area code for Tarakan is 551 (international format +62551). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Tarakan
Overview of Area Code 551 (Tarakan, Indonesia)
Area code 551 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Tarakan and its surrounding administrative region in North Kalimantan province, Indonesia. Tarakan is an island city located off the coast of Borneo, serving as a major economic and logistical hub for the region. The code 551 is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within this area, and it is part of Indonesia's national numbering plan under the country calling code +62.
Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction
The 551 area code covers the administrative city of Tarakan (Kota Tarakan), which includes the districts of Tarakan Barat, Tarakan Timur, Tarakan Tengah, and Tarakan Utara. It also serves nearby settlements on the mainland that rely on Tarakan's telecommunication infrastructure. As a geographic code, it is tied to the physical location of the subscriber's line, and calls to 551 numbers are routed via the PSTN to the Tarakan exchange.
Dialing Formats and Instructions
For callers within Indonesia, dialing a Tarakan fixed-line number requires the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and the subscriber's local number. The local number typically consists of 6 to 7 digits, making the complete national significant number (NSN) 8 to 9 digits after the trunk prefix. For example, a local Tarakan number might be formatted as:
- Local dialing (within Tarakan): 551 XXX XXX (if using the area code) or just the local number if within the same exchange.
- National long-distance dialing (from other Indonesian cities): 0 551 XXX XXX
- International dialing (from abroad): +62 551 XXX XXX (drop the leading 0).
For instance, if the local number is 123456, a caller from Jakarta would dial 0551 123456, while an international caller would dial +62 551 123456.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
As of the latest updates, there is no overlay code for the 551 area; the code remains exclusively assigned to Tarakan. However, with the growth of VoIP and mobile services, some numbers may be routed over IP networks, but the geographic significance remains for emergency services and regulatory purposes. Callers should note that mobile numbers in Indonesia are non-geographic and begin with 8 (e.g., 0812, 0852), so they are not dialed with the 551 area code.
Practical Guidance for Callers
When calling a Tarakan fixed-line number from abroad, always replace the leading 0 with the country code +62. Ensure you have the correct local number, as omitting the area code will result in a failed call. For businesses, it is essential to display numbers in international format (+62 551 ...) on websites and marketing materials to facilitate global communication.