In today's world of modern communication, you may receive a call from a number you don't recognize. This number may belong to an old acquaintance with whom you no longer keep in touch, or it may be a ploy by a company undertaking telephone marketing. Even in such cases, it's also possible that the phone number is completely different, with a foreign area code. That's when you might wonder whether it's worth answering. Is this the right choice? You might reasonably assume that such an international area code belongs to a scammer. In this article, we'll explore telephone codes in France and abroad, introduce geographic numbers, and explain the distinction between mobile and special numbers. Finally, we'll talk about Geoloc.be, a versatile platform for successfully locating a phone number in just a few steps.
What is a telephone code?
In France, as in the rest of the world, the area code is used to identify the region or country from which your correspondent contacts you. It's important to know this information before dialing or answering a call. In addition, the prefix is made up of digits that form the area code, distinguishing data for regions and countries. In France, as in the rest of the world, these prefixes obey precise rules established by various organizations.
ARCEP: locating a French area code
The Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts), or Arcep, is the body that manages French telephone numbers. Founded in Paris in 1997, it is responsible for accompanying the opening up of the telecommunications sector to competition and regulating the corresponding markets. While France's international prefix is 33, Arcep takes care of the rest of the digits used after the 0 (like 01 for Île-de-France) for a local call.
ITU: locating a prefix worldwide
The International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, is the international body responsible for international telephone numbers. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1865, the ITU manages prefixes such as the U.S. prefix (1 or +1 for an international call), which are subject to geographical zones. The United States and Canada belong to zone 1, while France and most European countries are classified in zone 3. For an international call from France or to France from abroad, dial +33 or 0033 on your mobile, then the local number (e.g., +33 or 0033 2 XX XX XX XX for North-West France and the Indian Ocean, such as Reunion and Mayotte). Please consult this extended list of international prefixes for information on dialing abroad.
Locating a telephone code in France
French cell phone numbers are defined by ARCEP. Thus, the construction rules belonging to a certain device include the details that separate a number from the North-East and South-East regions of France. For a better understanding, here's how a phone number breaks down according to the E Z AB PQ MCDU coding:
- E: operator (the "carrier" telephone operator chosen to make the call)
- Z: geographical area
- AB: departmental zone
- PQ: center autonome d'acheminement (acronym for "quantitative prefix")
- MCDU: identifier of the final subscriber on the routing center (acronym for "thousand, hundred, ten, unit").
What are the geographic numbers?
Since 1996, France has had five geographical zones according to which landline telephone numbers are allocated. These correspond to as many regions as possible, but are different for the eighteen administrative regions defined in 2016. The prefixes 01 to 05 indicate the subscriber's region, while the next two digits are associated with the département. For departmental prefixes, please consult the list of French area codes. For additional help, here's the list of regional prefixes:
- 01: Île-de-France
- 02: Northwest (Brittany, Centre-Val de Loire, Normandy, and Pays de la Loire) and Indian Ocean (Reunion and Mayotte)
- 03: Northeast (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, and Hauts-de-France)
- 04: Southeast (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Corsica, Occitanie Est, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)
- 05: South-West (Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie Ouest), Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Guyana
Don't forget that it's possible to keep your geographic phone number even if you change regions, thanks to the principle of extended portability, as for cell phone lines, since 2020.
Mobile, special, and non-geographic numbers: what are the differences?
Locate a mobile number 06 or 07
If the number of the incoming call begins with 06 or 07, then it corresponds to cell phone lines that are not tied to a geographical location. What's more, these numbers are not associated with a particular operator, such as Bouygues, Free, Orange, SFR, or Vodafone, so it's not possible to locate them in this way or with their IMEI. These two prefixes were introduced to meet the high demand for numbers in France, but they are different from special numbers.
Locate a special 08 number
Numbers starting with 08 are non-geographic and correspond to Value-Added Services (VAS). These give access to administrative services, customer services, advertising, and games in most cases, and serve as replacements for older numbers such as Vert, Indigo, or Azur.
Locate a non-geographic 09 number
A telephone number with the 09 prefix corresponds to a group of non-geographic numbers assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to Internet box telephone lines. These numbers use voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology and do not specify any location.
Is an international call necessarily a phone scam?
If you live in France and don't know anyone abroad, either personally or professionally, it's highly likely that the incoming call is a telephone scam. Be especially careful with the phenomenon known as "Ping Call," which is essentially a form of scam in which the sender calls in absence without leaving a message, prompting the user to call back a premium-rate number. To prevent these and other abuses, ARCEP established new rules in 2015 for calls in France. A simplified color code is used to identify pricing. Here are the three important types of numbers to know:
- 0800 to 0805 or toll-free numbers. These numbers are toll-free, meaning that the call and the service are completely free. You have nothing to worry about.
- 0806 to 0809, or gray numbers. These are unmarked numbers where the call is free but the service is chargeable. Find out more before you pick up the phone.
- 0810 to 0899, or magenta numbers. These premium rate numbers take calls and charge for services. Rates increase with time, and the maximum rate for 0899 is much higher than for 0810, depending on the operator and the time of day.
How do I locate an international area code?
In France, locating a telephone area code is simple, thanks to the efforts of ARCEP. In addition, there are third-party services such as Geoloc.be for accurate and efficient geolocation. However, locating an international prefix can be difficult. Like ARCEP, ITU takes into account telephone numbers from all over the world. However, this doesn't mean you can trace the details of lost correspondence or the identity of the sender. Nevertheless, with Geoloc.be, it can be easier to locate a device internationally with three obvious steps:
- Ask for the location by entering the phone number.
- The cell phone owner receives a notification to accept the geolocation.
- The exact location will be displayed on a map.
Bear in mind that this solution only works if the owner of the number agrees to the location. This requires their consent, and if we're talking about a scammer, then the answer may seem obvious to us. You can also use an online reverse look-up directory, provided it can be applied internationally.
Locating an international area code: what you need to know
First of all, it's important to know the reasoning behind the numbers used. Coding helps you locate the sender according to region, department, routing center, and subscription. This way, you'll at least have an idea of where that individual is calling from or where their phone number was created. If you use Arcep data for a call within France or ITU data for a call from abroad, you'll surely be able to find out the identity. Third-party services such as Geoloc.be offer precise geolocation if you have the individual's consent, but you can also use an international online reverse look-up directory to find him or her.
