Area Code 25 – Mbeya/Songwe/Ruvuma/Katavi/Rukwa

Geographic Coverage and Administration

The +255 25 country code prefix is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the southwestern highlands and western corridor of Tanzania. It serves the administrative regions of Mbeya, Songwe, Ruvuma, Katavi, and Rukwa. These areas are governed by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) under the national numbering plan, which follows ITU-T E.164 recommendations. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, including legacy copper networks and modern fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments.

Primary Cities and Dialing Formats

Key cities and towns within this code include Mbeya (the regional capital), Songwe, Vwawa, Tukuyu, Kyela, Njombe (historically part of Mbeya), Songea, Mbinga, Tunduru, Mpanda, Sumbawanga, and Nkasi. For local calls within the same NDC, subscribers typically dial the subscriber number without the trunk prefix or area code. For calls from other regions within Tanzania, the format is 0 25 XXX XXXX (the leading 0 is the trunk prefix). International callers must use +255 25 XXX XXXX or 011 255 25 XXX XXXX from North America.

Numbering and Overlay Considerations

Subscriber numbers under the 25 NDC are seven digits long (excluding the NDC), yielding a total national significant number (NSN) of nine digits when including the country code. As of 2024, there are no overlay codes in this region; however, TCRA has implemented mobile number portability (MNP) and fixed-line liberalization, which may affect routing. Callers should be aware that some businesses may use VoIP gateways that present a +255 25 number, but the geographic association remains tied to the physical exchange location.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within the 25 region, dial the seven-digit subscriber number directly. For callers elsewhere in Tanzania, dial 025 followed by the seven-digit number. For international callers, always replace the leading 0 with the country code +255 and drop the trunk prefix. Example: to reach a fixed line in Mbeya with the number 123 4567, dial +255 25 123 4567 from abroad. Ensure you have the correct international exit code (e.g., 00 in most countries, 011 in the US/Canada).

Service and Regulatory Notes

This geographic code is reserved for fixed-line services, but due to technology neutrality, some operators may route calls over IP networks. Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) are reached via 112 or 999, independent of the area code. For accurate billing and routing, always verify the subscriber's location, as number portability may allow a number with this code to be served by an exchange outside the traditional region.