Area Code 216 – Chipata/Eastern Province

Overview of Area Code +260 216

Area code 216 is a geographic destination code within the Zambian national numbering plan, assigned to the eastern region of the country, with its primary hub in the city of Chipata. Chipata serves as the provincial capital of Eastern Province and is a major commercial and administrative center near the Malawi border. The code covers the urban and peri-urban areas of Chipata District, including surrounding townships and rural exchanges that are part of the local PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).

Dialing Formats and Usage

When calling a fixed-line subscriber in Chipata from within Zambia, the national trunk prefix 0 is dialed followed by the area code and the subscriber's local number. The complete national format is 0 216 XXX XXX, where the subscriber number typically consists of six digits. For international callers, the Zambian country code +260 replaces the leading zero, resulting in the international format +260 216 XXX XXX. For example, a local call to a number would be dialed as 0216 XXX XXX, while an international caller would dial +260 216 XXX XXX.

It is important to note that the area code is geographic, meaning that the tariff for calls to this code is typically based on the distance from the caller's location, although many operators now offer bundled national calling plans. As of the latest numbering plan updates, there is no overlay code for Chipata, so the 216 code is exclusively used for fixed-line services in the region.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 216 area code falls under the jurisdiction of the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA). It serves not only Chipata city but also the surrounding districts within Eastern Province, including Chipangali, Kasenengwa, and Lumezi rural areas, where fixed-line infrastructure is available. The region is predominantly agricultural, and fixed-line penetration is lower compared to mobile services, but the code remains essential for government offices, businesses, and legacy PSTN users.

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Zambia): Dial 0216 followed by the six-digit subscriber number.
• International callers: Dial your country's exit code (e.g., 00 from most countries, or 011 from North America), then 260, then 216, and the six-digit subscriber number. Example: 00 260 216 XXX XXX.
• Mobile to fixed-line: Mobile users in Zambia must include the trunk prefix 0 when dialing a fixed-line number, so they would dial 0216 XXX XXX.

For callers using VoIP services, it is recommended to store the number in international format (+260216XXXXXX) to ensure proper routing. As with all geographic codes, the number is not portable to other regions, and subscribers moving outside the area may need to obtain a new number.