Area Code 652 – Kofra

Overview of Area Code 652 (Kofra, Libya)

Area code 652 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Kufra region in the southeastern part of Libya. This region is administered as the Kufra District, one of the largest districts in the country by area, though it is sparsely populated. The primary urban center is the city of Kufra (also spelled Kofra), which serves as the administrative and commercial hub for the surrounding oases, including Al Jawf, Buma, and Tazirbu.

Under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan, the full international dialing format for a fixed-line number in Kufra is +218 652 XXX XXX, where +218 is the country calling code for Libya, 652 is the NDC, and the remaining digits constitute the subscriber number. The total number of digits after the country code is typically 8, making the complete international number 11 digits when including the country code.

Dialing Instructions

For callers within Libya, the national long-distance dialing format requires the trunk prefix 0 followed by the area code and subscriber number: 0 652 XXX XXX. This applies to calls made from any other region in Libya to a fixed-line subscriber in Kufra. For example, a local call from Tripoli to Kufra would be dialed as 0 652 XXX XXX.

For international callers, the format is: +218 652 XXX XXX (or 00218 652 XXX XXX from countries using the international prefix 00). It is essential to omit the leading trunk prefix '0' when dialing from abroad.

When calling a Kufra number from within the same area code, local dialing may allow the omission of the area code, but this depends on the specific telecom operator's rules. It is always safe to use the full national format.

Geographic and Administrative Context

Kufra is located in the Libyan Desert, near the borders with Egypt, Sudan, and Chad. Its remote location means that telecommunications infrastructure is less dense compared to coastal cities like Tripoli or Benghazi. The area code 652 is exclusively used for fixed-line (PSTN) services in this region. Mobile numbers in Libya use separate non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 91, 92, 93, 94) and are not tied to area codes.

As with all geographic codes in Libya, the numbering plan is managed by the General Telecommunications Authority (GTA) and the Libyan Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Holding Company (LPTIC). Overlays or number portability for fixed lines are not yet widely implemented, so the area code remains a reliable indicator of the subscriber's geographic location.

For businesses or individuals seeking to establish a presence in Kufra, securing a local fixed-line number with the 652 code can enhance local credibility and support regional operations, though VoIP and mobile services are increasingly common due to the challenging terrain.