Area Code 72 – Bizerte/Nabeul/Zaghouan

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The Tunisian national destination code (NDC) 72 is a geographic area code assigned to the northern coastal and inland governorates of Bizerte, Nabeul, and Zaghouan. These regions form part of the country's northeastern economic corridor, with Bizerte serving as a major Mediterranean port and industrial hub, Nabeul renowned for its tourism and handicrafts, and Zaghouan acting as a historical inland center. The code is administered by the Instance Nationale des Télécommunications (INTT) under the national numbering plan aligned with ITU-T E.164 recommendations.

Dialing Formats and Usage

Within Tunisia, calls to fixed-line subscribers in the 72 area require dialing the trunk prefix 0 followed by the NDC and the subscriber number. The complete national format is 0 72 XX XX XXX, where the subscriber number consists of seven digits. For example, a landline in Bizerte might be reached locally as 0 72 123 4567.

International callers must omit the leading trunk prefix and instead use Tunisia's country calling code +216. The international dialing format becomes +216 72 XX XX XXX, such as +216 72 123 4567. This format is essential for routing calls from abroad, whether via PSTN, mobile, or VoIP services.

Numbering Plan and Overlay Considerations

As of the current numbering plan, the 72 area code does not have an overlay code; it remains the sole geographic code for the region. Subscriber numbers are fixed at seven digits, and the total length of a national significant number (NSN) is eight digits (including the NDC). This structure ensures efficient routing and numbering capacity for the region's growing telecommunications demand.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers within Tunisia (including mobile users) must always dial the trunk prefix 0 before the area code when calling a fixed line in the 72 region, even if calling from another fixed line in the same area.
• International callers should replace the trunk prefix with the international access code of their country (e.g., 00 in most of Europe) followed by Tunisia's country code 216 and then the area code without the leading zero.
• VoIP and mobile users should store numbers in international format (+216 72...) to ensure proper routing regardless of their current location.

Understanding these dialing rules is critical for businesses and individuals who frequently communicate with the Bizerte, Nabeul, or Zaghouan regions, as misdialing can lead to failed connections or unintended charges.