Area Code 284 – Bolívar

Overview of Area Code 284 (Bolívar, Venezuela)

Area code 284 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the state of Bolívar in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, under the national numbering plan administered by the Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL). This code serves the southern region of the country, covering the capital city of Ciudad Bolívar and other significant urban centers such as Puerto Ordaz and Ciudad Guayana (including San Félix). The area is part of the Guayana region, rich in natural resources and industrial activity, including the heavy industries along the Orinoco River.

Geographically, the 284 code encompasses municipalities within the state of Bolívar, which borders Brazil to the south and Guyana to the east. The region is known for its vast savannas, the Canaima National Park, and the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls. However, from a telecommunications perspective, the code is primarily associated with the urban and semi-urban areas where fixed-line services are concentrated.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

For callers within Venezuela, dialing a number in the 284 area code requires the national trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code and the subscriber number. The local subscriber number length in this geographic area is typically 7 digits. Thus, a domestic call to a fixed line in Ciudad Bolívar would be dialed as:

• 0-284-XXX-XXXX (from a Venezuelan landline or mobile phone)

For international callers, the Venezuelan country code is +58. Therefore, to call a number in Bolívar from abroad, you would dial:

• +58-284-XXX-XXXX (replacing the leading '0' with the international access code and country code)

For example, a local number such as 285-1234 would be dialed as 0284-285-1234 domestically and +58 284 285 1234 internationally.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 284 area code is allocated to the state of Bolívar, which is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital, Ciudad Bolívar, is the primary city served by this code, along with the industrial hub of Ciudad Guayana, which is formed by the union of Puerto Ordaz and San Félix. Other towns and municipalities within the state also fall under this code, including Upata, Caicara del Orinoco, and Guasipati, among others.

It is important to note that this is a geographic code, meaning that the number is tied to a physical location. However, with the advent of number portability, subscribers may retain their numbers when moving within the same geographic area, but the code generally indicates the original service address.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

As of the current numbering plan, there is no overlay code for the 284 area; it remains the sole geographic code for the state of Bolívar. However, due to the growth of mobile and VoIP services, many residents and businesses also use mobile numbers (starting with 414, 424, 416, etc.) which are non-geographic and not tied to this area code. For fixed-line calls, the 284 code is essential for routing within the PSTN.

When calling from a mobile phone within Venezuela, the same domestic format (0-284-XXX-XXXX) applies. For callers using VoIP services, the international format (+58 284 XXX XXXX) is often recommended to ensure proper routing.