Area Code 45 – Sepik

Overview of Area Code 45 (Sepik Region)

Area code 45 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea (PNG). This region encompasses the East Sepik and West Sepik (Sandaun) provinces, located in the northern part of the mainland. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services within this area, and it is an integral part of the national numbering plan under the ITU-T E.164 standard.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The Sepik region is named after the Sepik River, one of the largest rivers in the country. Major towns served by this code include Wewak (the capital of East Sepik), Vanimo (the capital of West Sepik), and Maprik. The area is administratively divided into two provinces, each with its own local government, but they share the same telephone area code for fixed-line services.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For callers within Papua New Guinea, the national trunk prefix is 0. To call a fixed-line number in the Sepik region, you must dial the trunk prefix, the area code, and the subscriber number. The complete national format is:

• National dialing: 0 45 XXXX XXX (where X represents the subscriber number digits)
• International dialing: +675 45 XXXX XXX

For example, if you are calling a fixed line in Wewak with the subscriber number 123 4567, you would dial 045 123 4567 from within PNG, or +675 45 123 4567 from abroad.

It is important to note that the subscriber number for fixed lines in PNG typically consists of 7 digits, making the total number length (including the area code) 9 digits. The area code is not separated by a space in the international format, but for readability, it is often written as +675 45 123 4567.

Overlay Considerations and Numbering Plan

Currently, there is no overlay code for the Sepik region; area code 45 is the sole geographic code for this area. However, as with many developing telecommunication markets, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) of Papua New Guinea may introduce number expansion or overlay plans in the future to accommodate growing demand. Callers should always verify the current dialing procedures if they encounter issues.

Caller Instructions for Local and Foreign Callers

• Local callers (within PNG): Always include the trunk prefix '0' before the area code when dialing from a different region. For calls within the same area code, local dialing may allow omitting the area code, but it is safer to use the full national format.
• Foreign callers: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +) followed by PNG's country code 675, then the area code 45 without the leading '0', and the subscriber number.

Understanding these dialing rules ensures seamless connectivity to businesses and residents in the Sepik region.