Trunk prefix
Encyclopedia
A trunk prefix is the number to be dialed in a domestic telephone call
, preceding any necessary area codes and subscriber numbers. When the number is called from overseas, the trunk prefix is omitted by the caller. In most countries, such as Australia
, Germany
and the United Kingdom
, the trunk prefix is 0. In the North American Numbering Plan
it is 1.
n state of Queensland
.
A caller from outside Australia would dial the international access number (international call prefix) of the originating country (00 for many countries, 011 from NANP areas), then dial the country code
(in this case 61), omit the trunk prefix, then dial the area code (in this case 7), and then the local number. So a caller in the UK would dial 00 61 7 3333 3333, while a caller in the USA would dial 011 61 7 3333 3333.
Calling interstate (e.g. from Western Australia
), a caller would not dial an international access number or country code, but dial the trunk prefix (in this case 0) then the area code, followed by the telephone number: 0 7 3333 3333
Calling from within Queensland, one simply dials the telephone number: 3333 3333.
When conducting business (e.g., on business card
s or stationery, etc.), that number should be written as +61 7 3333 3333 and should include only the digits that must be dialed from abroad. The + sign is used in place of the international access code. It has become common practice to write the number with the trunk prefix in parentheses, for example: +61 (0) 7 3333 3333. However, someone calling this number from the USA would probably dial all the digits, resulting in a failed call. ITU-T Recommendation E.123
states that parentheses should not be used in the international notation.
Telephone call
A telephone call is a connection over a telephone network between the calling party and the called party.-Information transmission:A telephone call may carry ordinary voice transmission using a telephone, data transmission when the calling party and called party are using modems, or facsimile...
, preceding any necessary area codes and subscriber numbers. When the number is called from overseas, the trunk prefix is omitted by the caller. In most countries, such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the trunk prefix is 0. In the North American Numbering Plan
North American Numbering Plan
The North American Numbering Plan is an integrated telephone numbering plan administered by Neustar which encompasses 24 countries and territories, including the United States and its territories, Canada, Bermuda, and 16 nations of the Caribbean...
it is 1.
Example
Assume a call is to be made to someone in the AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
A caller from outside Australia would dial the international access number (international call prefix) of the originating country (00 for many countries, 011 from NANP areas), then dial the country code
Country code
Country codes are short alphabetic or numeric geographical codes developed to represent countries and dependent areas, for use in data processing and communications. Several different systems have been developed to do this. The best known of these is ISO 3166-1...
(in this case 61), omit the trunk prefix, then dial the area code (in this case 7), and then the local number. So a caller in the UK would dial 00 61 7 3333 3333, while a caller in the USA would dial 011 61 7 3333 3333.
Calling interstate (e.g. from Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
), a caller would not dial an international access number or country code, but dial the trunk prefix (in this case 0) then the area code, followed by the telephone number: 0 7 3333 3333
Calling from within Queensland, one simply dials the telephone number: 3333 3333.
When conducting business (e.g., on business card
Business card
Business cards are cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid. A business card typically includes the giver's name, company affiliation and contact information such as street addresses, telephone...
s or stationery, etc.), that number should be written as +61 7 3333 3333 and should include only the digits that must be dialed from abroad. The + sign is used in place of the international access code. It has become common practice to write the number with the trunk prefix in parentheses, for example: +61 (0) 7 3333 3333. However, someone calling this number from the USA would probably dial all the digits, resulting in a failed call. ITU-T Recommendation E.123
E.123
E.123, also known as Notation for national and international telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web addresses is an ITU-T standard for printed representation of telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and web addresses.-Example formats:...
states that parentheses should not be used in the international notation.