Italy +39

Italy, officially the Republic of Italy, is a Southern European country known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and advanced telecommunications infrastructure. The country's telephone system is fully modernized, with a high penetration of mobile and broadband services. Italy's country code, +39, is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is used for all international calls to the country. Unlike many nations, Italy does not use a trunk prefix (such as '0') when dialing domestically from abroad; the full national significant number is dialed directly after +39. This system simplifies international dialing but requires attention to the structure of Italian telephone numbers, which vary in length depending on the type of service.

Dialing Instructions from Abroad

To call an Italian number from another country, the international dialing format is: +39 followed by the full national number, including the leading '0' for geographic area codes. For example, to call a landline in Rome (area code 06), you would dial +39 06 XXXX XXXX. For mobile numbers, which always begin with '3' (e.g., 3XX XXX XXXX), you dial +39 3XX XXX XXXX, omitting any leading zero (Italian mobile numbers do not have a leading zero). It is crucial to note that the plus sign (+) represents the international access code used in your country (e.g., 00 in most European countries, 011 in the United States, or 810 from Russia). When dialing from a mobile phone, the plus sign is typically generated by pressing and holding the '0' key.

Area Codes and Numbering Plan

Italy's telephone numbering plan is regulated by the Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM). Geographic area codes (prefissi) are assigned to specific provinces or cities and always begin with '0'. The length of the area code varies from two to four digits; for instance, Rome uses '06' (two digits), while smaller cities like Cagliari use '070' (three digits), and some towns have four-digit codes. After the area code, the subscriber number length varies to ensure that the total length of the area code plus subscriber number is always 9 or 10 digits (excluding the leading '0' of the area code). Mobile numbers in Italy are nine digits long and always start with '3' (e.g., 3xx xxxxxxx). There are no separate area codes for mobile numbers; the entire number is dialed as a single sequence. Special services, such as toll-free numbers (starting with 800) and premium-rate numbers (e.g., 899, 892), have their own distinct prefixes and are dialed without any area code.

Special Rules and Number Formats

One of the most important rules for international callers is that the leading '0' of the geographic area code is always dialed when calling from abroad. This is a common point of confusion because many countries drop the trunk prefix when dialing internationally. In Italy, the '0' is an integral part of the area code and must be included. Additionally, Italian telephone numbers are often written in groups (e.g., 06 1234 5678), but the spaces are only for readability; they should not be dialed. For mobile numbers, there is no leading zero, so the number is dialed as +39 followed by the 9-digit mobile number. Another special rule applies to calls between Italian mobile and landline networks: they are treated as domestic calls, but the caller must dial the full 10-digit number (including the leading '0' for landlines) even when calling from within Italy. When calling from abroad, the same full number is used after +39.

Traveler and Business Tips

For travelers visiting Italy, it is recommended to use a local SIM card or an international roaming plan to avoid high charges. Major Italian mobile operators include TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre, and Iliad, offering prepaid SIM cards that can be purchased with a passport. When making local calls within Italy, you must always dial the full number, including the leading '0' for landlines, even if you are in the same city. For businesses, it is essential to ensure that all published contact numbers include the +39 prefix and the full national number, as omitting the leading '0' will result in call failures. Italy's telecommunication market is highly competitive, with widespread 5G coverage in urban areas and good LTE coverage in rural regions. For emergency services, dial 112 (single European emergency number) or 113 (police), 115 (fire), and 118 (ambulance) – these are toll-free and do not require an area code. When calling from a foreign country to an Italian emergency number, you must dial +39 112 (or the specific service number) – note that 112 is valid throughout the EU and is answered by local emergency operators.