Area Code 628 – Chihuahua

Overview of Area Code 628

Area code 628 is a geographic numbering plan area (NPA) within the Mexican national numbering plan, administered under the ITU-T E.164 standard. It serves the western region of the state of Chihuahua, encompassing the municipalities of Guachochi, Batopilas, and Morelos, among others. This area is characterized by the Sierra Tarahumara, a rugged, mountainous terrain that influences the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure, often relying on microwave links and satellite backhaul in remote communities.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The 628 code covers a predominantly rural and semi-urban territory. The principal city is Guachochi, a local economic and cultural hub for the Rarámuri (Tarahumara) indigenous communities. Other notable localities include Creel, a tourist gateway to the Copper Canyon, and the mining towns of Batopilas and Urique. Administratively, these areas fall under the jurisdiction of the state of Chihuahua, and the code is allocated to fixed-line services, including PSTN and some fixed wireless access (FWA) lines.

Dialing Formats and Procedures

For local calls within the 628 area, callers must dial the full 10-digit number: the three-digit area code followed by a seven-digit local number. For example, to call a landline in Guachochi, you would dial 628 123 4567. This applies even for calls between neighboring towns within the same area code, as Mexico eliminated the 01 long-distance prefix for domestic calls in 2019.

For international callers, the format is +52 628 123 4567. The plus sign represents the international access prefix (00 in most countries), followed by Mexico's country code 52, the area code 628, and the local number. When dialing from a mobile phone, the plus sign is typically generated by pressing and holding the 0 key.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for 628; it is the sole area code for this region. However, due to the growing demand for telecommunications services in the Sierra Tarahumara, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) may introduce an overlay in the future. If an overlay is implemented, 10-digit dialing will remain mandatory, and new numbers may be assigned with a different area code.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Mexico: To call a number in the 628 area from outside the region, simply dial the 10-digit number (628 + local number). No long-distance prefix is required. For example, from Mexico City, you would dial 628 123 4567.

For foreign callers: Dial your country's international access code (e.g., 011 from the US/Canada), then Mexico's country code 52, then the area code 628, and the local number. For instance, from the US, you would dial 011 52 628 123 4567 or use the +52 format on a mobile phone.

Emergency services within this region are reached via 911, which is a national emergency number and does not require an area code.