Area Code 264 – St. Helena

Overview of Area Code +290 264

Area code 264 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the country calling code +290, assigned to the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. This code forms part of the E.164 numbering plan administered by the Communications Regulatory Authority of St. Helena (Cable & Wireless South Atlantic Ltd, trading as Sure South Atlantic). The +290 264 range serves the capital, Jamestown, and the surrounding central districts, including Half Tree Hollow, St. Paul’s, and the island’s main administrative and commercial hubs.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

St. Helena is a British Overseas Territory, and the +290 264 code is exclusively used for fixed-line (PSTN) services on the island. Unlike mobile numbers, which are allocated to non-geographic prefixes (e.g., +290 5xxx or +290 6xxx), the 264 prefix is tied to physical telephone exchanges in the Jamestown area. The code covers both residential and business lines, including government offices, the St. Helena Airport terminal, and the island’s main hospital. As of the 2021 census, the population was approximately 4,400, and the fixed-line network remains essential for local connectivity, though VoIP and mobile services are growing.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For international callers, the correct format is +290 264 XXXX (or +290264XXXX without spaces). Local callers within St. Helena must dial the full eight-digit number, including the area code, even for calls within the same exchange. For example, to call a local business in Jamestown, a caller on the island would dial 264 XXXX. When calling from abroad, replace the leading zero (if present) with the +290 international prefix. There is no trunk prefix (such as '0') used in St. Helena; the international format is simply +290 followed by the NDC and subscriber number.

Numbering and Overlay Considerations

St. Helena uses a closed numbering plan with eight-digit numbers for all fixed and mobile services. The 264 prefix is not subject to overlay codes, as the island’s small population does not require additional area codes. However, number portability is available for mobile services, but fixed-line numbers are generally tied to the geographic location. The +290 264 range is not used for premium-rate or toll-free services; those are allocated to other NDCs such as 800 (toll-free) and 90 (premium).

Practical Information for Callers

When calling St. Helena from the UK, US, or other countries, ensure you have the correct international exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries) followed by 290 and the local number. For example, a call to a Jamestown hotel would be dialed as 011 290 264 XXXX from the US. Calls to St. Helena are charged at international rates, which vary by carrier. For those using VoIP services, the same format applies, but ensure your provider supports calls to +290 destinations. St. Helena is in the GMT time zone (UTC+0) and does not observe daylight saving time, so plan calls accordingly.