Area Code 73 – Kaohsiung

Overview of Taiwan Area Code 73

Area code 73 is the geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to Kaohsiung City and its surrounding administrative regions in Taiwan. Under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan, the full country calling code for Taiwan is +886, so a complete international number for a fixed-line subscriber in Kaohsiung takes the format +886 7 XXXX XXX (note: the leading '0' of the domestic trunk prefix is dropped when dialing from abroad). Within Taiwan, callers must dial the trunk prefix '0' followed by the area code, resulting in the domestic format 0 7 XXXX XXX.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Area code 73 serves the entire Kaohsiung metropolitan area, which is a special municipality in southern Taiwan. This includes the densely populated urban districts such as Lingya, Gushan, Qianzhen, and Xinxing, as well as the broader administrative regions of the former Kaohsiung County, now merged into the city. The code also covers outlying districts like Cishan, Meinong, and the coastal areas near the Taiwan Strait. As one of Taiwan's major economic hubs, Kaohsiung hosts the country's largest international port and a significant industrial zone, making reliable fixed-line communication essential for businesses and government entities.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

• Local calls within Kaohsiung: When dialing a fixed-line number within the same area code, callers may often omit the area code and simply dial the 7-digit subscriber number (XXXX XXX). However, for clarity and to avoid misdialing, it is recommended to dial the full domestic format 0 7 XXXX XXX.
• Domestic long-distance calls from other regions in Taiwan: Dial the trunk prefix '0', then the area code 7, followed by the 7-digit subscriber number: 0 7 XXXX XXX.
• International calls from abroad: Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most countries), then Taiwan's country code 886, followed by the area code without the leading '0', and the subscriber number: +886 7 XXXX XXX.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Taiwan's numbering plan does not currently employ overlay codes for Kaohsiung; area code 7 is the sole geographic code for the region. Subscriber numbers are 7 digits long, and the total length of a domestic number including trunk prefix is 10 digits (0 + area code + subscriber number). The allocation of numbers is managed by the National Communications Commission (NCC), and fixed-line services are primarily provided by Chunghwa Telecom, though alternative operators may offer services using the same geographic code.

Practical Tips for Callers

When calling a Kaohsiung fixed-line number from a mobile phone within Taiwan, you must always include the area code (0 7) even if you are physically located in Kaohsiung, as mobile networks do not automatically route based on location. For international callers, be aware that some VoIP services may require you to use the +886 format. Always verify the subscriber number length, as some older numbers may have fewer digits, but modern fixed-line numbers are consistently 7 digits.