Area Code 23 – Port Vila, Shefa

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The area code 23 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the capital city of Port Vila, located on the island of Efate in the Shefa Province of Vanuatu. This code is part of the country's public switched telephone network (PSTN) and serves fixed-line subscribers within the urban and peri-urban areas of Port Vila, including government offices, businesses, and residential customers. The administrative jurisdiction covers the municipal boundaries of Port Vila and its immediate surroundings, which constitute the primary economic and political hub of the archipelago.

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

In the international format, a Port Vila fixed-line number is written as +678 23X XXXX, where the complete national significant number (NSN) is eight digits long, beginning with the NDC '23'. The remaining six digits are the subscriber number. When dialing locally within Vanuatu, callers must include the trunk prefix '0' before the NDC, resulting in the format 0 23X XXXX. For example, a typical number might be +678 23 456 789 or, domestically, 023 456 789. It is crucial to note that the leading '0' is only used for domestic calls and must be omitted when dialing from abroad.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for Port Vila; the '23' prefix is unique to the geographic region. However, as Vanuatu's telecommunications market evolves, number portability may allow subscribers to retain their numbers when switching providers, though the geographic significance remains. Callers should be aware that while the code is geographically tied to Port Vila, some businesses may use VoIP or other non-geographic services to present a local presence, but the underlying routing is still associated with the Shefa region.

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Vanuatu, simply dial the eight-digit number starting with '0' and the area code. For international callers, replace the '0' with the country code '+678' and then dial the area code and subscriber number. Ensure that you have the correct international exit code for your country (e.g., '00' or '+') before dialing. For example, a caller from the United States would dial 011 678 23 456 789, while a caller from Australia would dial 0011 678 23 456 789. Always confirm the number with the recipient, as misdialing may route to a different region or service.