Area Code 453 – Mercedes/Soriano

Overview of Area Code 453 (Mercedes, Soriano)

Area code 453 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) within the Uruguayan national numbering plan, assigned to the city of Mercedes and its surrounding areas in the Department of Soriano. This code is part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and is used for fixed-line services. Mercedes, the capital of Soriano, is a key administrative and commercial center in western Uruguay, situated along the Río Negro. The code covers the urban area of Mercedes and, in some cases, nearby localities within the department, depending on the specific exchange boundaries.

Geographic Coverage and Jurisdiction

The 453 code is administered under the jurisdiction of Antel, Uruguay's state-owned telecommunications company, which holds the concession for fixed-line services. The coverage area primarily includes the city of Mercedes and its immediate surroundings. While the department of Soriano also includes other towns such as Dolores and Villa Soriano, those localities use different area codes (e.g., 454 for Dolores). Therefore, callers must ensure they dial the correct code for the specific destination.

Dialing Formats

For local calls within the same area code, Uruguay uses an 8-digit subscriber number format for fixed lines. However, the national significant number (NSN) for geographic numbers is 8 digits, comprising the 3-digit area code followed by a 5-digit subscriber number. For example, a typical Mercedes number might be formatted as 453 2 3456 (where the first digit after the code often indicates the exchange).

• National dialing (within Uruguay): Dial 453 2 3456 (no trunk prefix is used; the country uses a closed numbering plan).
• International dialing (from abroad): Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 011 from the US, 00 from most European countries), then +598 453 2 3456.

When calling from a mobile phone within Uruguay, the same national format applies. There are no overlay codes in this region; the 453 code is unique to this geographic area.

Caller Instructions

Local callers (within Mercedes) can dial the 5-digit subscriber number directly without the area code, as per local dialing conventions. However, to avoid confusion, it is recommended to always use the full 8-digit number. International callers must replace the leading zero (if any) with the country code +598, then dial the area code 453 and the subscriber number. For example, to call a Mercedes number 453 2 3456 from the United States, you would dial: 011 598 453 2 3456.

Technical Considerations

Geographic numbers in Uruguay are not portable to other geographic areas, but they can be ported to VoIP providers that support geographic numbers, subject to regulatory rules. The 453 code is used exclusively for fixed-line services; mobile numbers in Uruguay begin with the digit '9' and are non-geographic. When receiving calls from abroad, the caller pays the international tariff, while the receiver is billed according to their local plan. For businesses in Mercedes, having a local geographic number enhances trust and local presence.