Area Code 5 – Highlands

Overview of Papua New Guinea Area Code 5

Area code 5 is the geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea. This region encompasses the central and western highlands provinces, including the major administrative centers of Mount Hagen (Western Highlands Province), Goroka (Eastern Highlands Province), Kundiawa (Chimbu Province), Mendi (Southern Highlands Province), and Wabag (Enga Province). The Highlands region is known for its rugged terrain and significant agricultural activity, and this code covers both urban and rural subscribers within these provinces.

Dialing Formats

When calling a fixed-line number in the Highlands region from within Papua New Guinea, you must dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 5, and then the subscriber's local number. For example, a local number in Mount Hagen might be 542 1234, so the complete domestic dialing format would be 0 5 42 1234. The national significant number (NSN) is typically 7 digits, comprising the area code (5) and a 6-digit local number.

For international callers, the format is: +675 5 42 1234, where +675 is the country calling code for Papua New Guinea. Note that the leading trunk prefix 0 is omitted when dialing from abroad.

Geographic Coverage and Administration

Area code 5 is allocated to the Highlands region, which is one of four major geographic regions in Papua New Guinea (the others being Momase, New Guinea Islands, and Southern). The code is administered by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA), the national regulatory body. Subscriber numbers within this code are assigned to fixed-line services, including PSTN and some fixed wireless services. The code is not portable across geographic regions; if a subscriber moves outside the Highlands region, they would typically need to obtain a new number with the appropriate regional code.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within the Highlands region, dialing another fixed-line number in the same area code may require only the local number (without the area code) in some exchanges, but it is safer to always dial the full domestic format 0 5 XXX XXX to ensure proper routing. For callers from other regions in Papua New Guinea, always dial 0 5 followed by the local number. For international callers, always use +675 5 followed by the local number. Be aware that call charges may vary depending on your service provider and whether you are calling from a mobile or fixed line.