Area Code 0789 – Sassari

Overview of Area Code 0789

Area code 0789 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the province of Sassari, in the autonomous region of Sardinia, Italy. It serves the city of Sassari and its surrounding municipalities, including Porto Torres, Sorso, Stintino, and Alghero (partially). The code is part of the Italian public switched telephone network (PSTN) and is used for fixed-line services.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The 0789 area code covers the northwestern part of Sardinia, an island region with a population of approximately 1.6 million. The administrative jurisdiction is the Province of Sassari, which is the second-largest province in Italy by area. Key cities and towns within this code include Sassari (the provincial capital), Porto Torres (a major port), Sorso, Stintino (a popular tourist destination), and Alghero (which also uses 079 for some lines). The area is known for its historical sites, beaches, and the famous Sardinian coastline.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in the 0789 area from within Italy, you must dial the full national number, which includes the leading zero: 0789 XXX XXX. The total number of digits after the country code is 9 or 10, depending on the subscriber number length. For example, a local number might be 0789 123456 (6 digits after the code) or 0789 1234567 (7 digits).

From outside Italy, you dial the international access code (00 or +), then the Italian country code 39, followed by the area code without the leading zero, and then the subscriber number: +39 789 XXX XXX. For instance, to call a number in Sassari from the United States, you would dial: 011 39 789 XXX XXX.

Local and International Caller Instructions

For local callers: Within the same area code, you may still need to dial the full number including the area code, as Italy has implemented closed dialing for all fixed-line numbers. This means that even local calls require the full national number. For example, to call a neighbor in Sassari, you would dial 0789 123456.

For international callers: Always replace the leading zero with the country code. So, a call from the UK to Sassari would be: 00 39 789 123456 (or +39 789 123456 on a mobile).

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the latest ITU-T and AGCOM (Italian Regulatory Authority) updates, there is no overlay code for 0789. The area code is unique to the Sassari province. However, due to number portability, a fixed-line number with the 0789 code might be served by a different operator, but the geographic significance remains. It is important to note that some mobile numbers may also appear with the 0789 prefix if they were ported from a fixed line, but mobile numbers typically start with 3 (e.g., 3XX) and are non-geographic.

For businesses and residents, the 0789 code is essential for establishing a local presence in Sassari. When calling from abroad, always check the time difference (CET/CEST) to avoid disturbing recipients.