Area Code 294 – Itaugua

Geographic Scope and Administrative Jurisdiction

The country calling code +595, assigned to Paraguay under the ITU-T E.164 standard, is followed by the National Destination Code (NDC) 294 to reach subscribers with fixed-line telephone numbers in the city of Itauguá and its surrounding metropolitan area. Itauguá is a city located in the Central Department, approximately 30 kilometers east of Asunción, the national capital. The code 294 serves the urban and peri-urban zones of Itauguá, including neighborhoods such as Centro, Villa Alegre, and Mbocayaty, as well as nearby rural communities that fall within the local exchange area. Administratively, the Central Department is one of Paraguay's most densely populated regions, and Itauguá is part of the Greater Asunción conurbation, which influences its numbering and call routing.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For domestic callers within Paraguay, the national significant number (NSN) for a fixed-line subscriber in Itauguá consists of the NDC 294 followed by a seven-digit subscriber number. The complete national dialing format is 021 294 XXX XXXX? Actually, the standard format is 021 294 XXX XXXX is incorrect; the correct domestic dialing is 0 294 XXX XXXX (where the leading 0 is the trunk prefix). For example, to call a fixed line in Itauguá from Asunción, you would dial 0 294 123 4567.

International callers must dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or + from most countries), followed by Paraguay's country code 595, the NDC 294 without the leading trunk prefix, and the seven-digit subscriber number. Thus, a call from the United States would be dialed as 011 595 294 123 4567, or using the plus notation: +595 294 123 4567. It is crucial to omit the initial '0' of the domestic trunk prefix when dialing from abroad.

Numbering Plan and Overlay Considerations

Paraguay's national numbering plan, administered by the Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL), assigns geographic area codes based on departmental and municipal boundaries. The 294 code is dedicated exclusively to Itauguá and its immediate surroundings; there is no overlay code currently in effect for this area. Subscriber numbers within the 294 code are typically seven digits long, but some older lines may have fewer digits; however, the standard is seven digits. As of recent years, Paraguay has been migrating to a uniform numbering plan to ensure all fixed-line numbers have the same length, and the 294 code follows this trend.

For callers within Itauguá, local calls between subscribers in the same exchange area may be dialed using only the seven-digit subscriber number, depending on the operator's policy. However, for clarity and consistency, it is recommended to always use the full national format, especially when calling from mobile networks or VoIP services.

Service and Usage

Geographic numbers under the 294 code are primarily used for residential and business fixed-line services, including PSTN and VoIP-based fixed telephony. These numbers are not portable to mobile networks, as mobile numbers in Paraguay are identified by their own non-geographic prefixes (e.g., 097x, 098x, 099x). However, fixed number portability within the geographic area is possible, allowing subscribers to retain their 294 number when switching between fixed-line operators.

When calling a 294 number from a mobile phone in Paraguay, the same domestic dialing format applies: 0 294 XXX XXXX. International callers should note that calls to Paraguayan fixed lines are typically charged at standard international rates, which vary by carrier. For businesses in Itauguá, having a 294 number establishes a local presence and can reduce costs for customers calling from within the region.