Area Code 40 – Alice/Bhisho

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The +27 40 country and area code combination is assigned to a geographic region in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Specifically, it serves the towns of Alice and Bhisho, along with their surrounding areas. Bhisho serves as the administrative capital of the Eastern Cape, hosting the provincial government and legislature, while Alice is a historic town known for the University of Fort Hare. The code covers a mix of urban and semi-rural areas, including the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality's western fringes and the Amathole District Municipality.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For local callers within South Africa, the area code is dialed in its full form, including the leading trunk prefix '0'. Thus, a local call to a number in Alice or Bhisho would be dialed as 040 XXX XXXX. For international callers, the country code +27 is used, and the trunk prefix '0' is dropped, resulting in the format +27 40 XXX XXXX. This is a standard E.164 international format. When dialing from a mobile phone within South Africa, the same local format applies, and the network will route the call to the fixed-line network.

Numbering Plan and Overlay Considerations

The 40 area code is part of South Africa's national numbering plan, which was revised in 2007 to increase number capacity. The code is a geographic code, meaning that the tariff and routing are based on the physical location of the line. There are no overlay codes currently in effect for this area, so the 040 prefix is unique to the Alice/Bhisho region. Subscriber numbers within this code are typically seven digits long, following the area code, making the total national significant number (NSN) length nine digits (excluding the trunk prefix).

Services and Usage

This geographic code is primarily used for fixed-line PSTN services, including residential, business, and government lines. With the advent of VoIP and number portability, some numbers under this code may be routed over IP networks, but the geographic association remains for regulatory and emergency services purposes. Callers should note that calls to this code are charged at standard national geographic rates when dialed from within South Africa, and international rates when dialed from abroad.

For example, a typical number in Bhisho might be 040 608 1234, which would be dialed as +27 40 608 1234 from outside the country. Always verify the full number with the recipient, as number lengths can vary.