Area Code 070 – Cagliari

Overview of Area Code 070

Area code 070 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the city of Cagliari, the capital of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Italy. It serves the metropolitan area of Cagliari and its surrounding province, including municipalities such as Quartu Sant'Elena, Selargius, Monserrato, and Sestu. The code is part of the Italian national numbering plan, which follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations. When dialed from abroad, the full international format is +39 070 XXX XXXX.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 070 area code covers the southern part of Sardinia, encompassing the Province of Cagliari and the newly established Metropolitan City of Cagliari. This region is the political, economic, and cultural hub of the island. Key infrastructure, including the Port of Cagliari and Cagliari Elmas Airport, falls within this numbering area. The code is administered by the Italian Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) and assigned to fixed-line operators, including Telecom Italia (TIM), Vodafone, Wind Tre, and Fastweb, as well as alternative local carriers.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

Within Italy, calls to 070 numbers require dialing the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and subscriber number: 070 XXX XXXX. For example, a local call to a Cagliari number would be dialed as 070 123 4567. From outside Italy, callers must use the international access code (00 or +), then Italy's country code 39, followed by the area code without the leading zero: +39 70 123 4567. Note that the leading zero is dropped in international format. There are no overlay codes in the Cagliari area, so local calls within the 070 region do not require an additional area code when dialing between different exchanges.

Numbering Plan and Length

Italian geographic numbers have a variable length, typically 6 to 10 digits after the country code. For 070, the subscriber number is usually 7 digits, making the total national significant number (NSN) 10 digits (including the leading zero). This structure allows for a maximum capacity of 10 million numbers, though actual usage is lower. The numbering plan is closed, meaning that all digits must be dialed even for local calls, as mandated by AGCOM.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Cagliari): Dial 070 followed by the 7-digit subscriber number.
• National callers (from other Italian cities): Dial 0 + 70 + subscriber number.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the US), then 39, then 70, then the subscriber number.

For example, to call a business in Cagliari from the United States, you would dial 011 39 70 123 4567. From a mobile phone, you can use the plus sign: +39 70 123 4567.

Special Considerations

As with all Italian geographic codes, number portability is available: subscribers can retain their 070 number when switching operators, but the number remains geographically tied to the Cagliari area. Calls to 070 numbers from mobile phones are charged at rates determined by the caller's plan, often including bundled minutes. Emergency services (112) and other short codes are not affected by area codes.