Area Code 552 – Bender

Overview of Area Code +373 552 (Bender, Moldova)

Area code 552 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Republic of Moldova's national numbering plan, as defined under ITU-T E.164. It serves the municipality of Bender (also known as Tighina), a city located on the right bank of the Dniester River within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova. The city is currently administered by the breakaway Transnistrian authorities, but from a telecommunications perspective, the +373 552 code is officially allocated to Bender and its surrounding localities.

The geographic coverage of this code includes the urban area of Bender and nearby settlements that fall under the same administrative jurisdiction. Bender is an important industrial and transportation hub, with a population of approximately 91,000 (pre-conflict estimates). The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, and in some cases, it may also be used for VoIP lines that are assigned a geographic number.

Dialing Formats

Understanding the correct dialing sequence is crucial for both local and international callers.

• National (domestic) dialing: When calling from within Moldova (excluding the Transnistrian region where alternative dialing may apply), you dial: 0 552 XXX XXX. The leading '0' is the trunk prefix used to access the national long-distance network.
• International dialing: From any other country, you dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the US/Canada), followed by Moldova's country code 373, then the area code without the leading '0', and the subscriber number: +373 552 XXX XXX.

For example, if a local Bender number is 123456, you would dial:

• From Chișinău (Moldova): 0 552 123456
• From the United States: 011 373 552 123456
• From the United Kingdom: 00 373 552 123456

Note that the total number of digits after the country code is typically 8 (including the area code), but the subscriber number length may vary. Always verify the exact number with the called party.

Overlays and Special Considerations

There are no overlay codes for Bender; the 552 code is unique to this geographic region. However, due to the special political status of Transnistria, call routing to Bender may sometimes be handled via alternative routes. In practice, calls from Moldova's right bank to Bender may be routed through international gateways, and callers may need to use the international format even when dialing domestically. It is advisable to check with your service provider for the most cost-effective and reliable method.

For callers outside Moldova, it is essential to use the full international format: +373 552 XXX XXX. This ensures proper routing through the global PSTN.

When dialing from a mobile phone in Moldova, you can use either the national format (0 552 XXX XXX) or the international format (+373 552 XXX XXX), as both are generally supported.