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Area code 264
Area code 264
Area code 264
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Area code 264 is the telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) of Anguilla. The area code was created in a split of the original numbering plan area in the Caribbean (809). 264 was chosen because it spells ANG -- the first three letters of the name of the nation -- on a telephone keypad.

In Anguilla, a local telephone number is dialed using the seven digits of the directory number. Calls from other NANP countries, including the United States, require dialing the long-distance trunk prefix (1), the area code and the seven-digit number.

Prior to the 1990s, subscribers in Anguilla dialed just three digits for a local call, and had the only four-digit national number in the 809 area code: 4972.[citation needed]

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Area code 264

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Area code 264 is the telephone area code assigned to , a British Overseas Territory comprising a group of islands in the of the , as part of the (NANP). It serves the entire territory, including the main island of and smaller surrounding cays, covering a population of approximately 15,000 residents across 14 districts. Introduced on March 31, 1997, area code 264 was established through a split of the original NANP area code 809, which had previously covered multiple countries and territories, to address growing demand for telephone numbers in the region. This made it the 188th area code created in the NANP, with all local phone numbers in transitioning to the new seven-digit format under 264. The code operates in the Atlantic Time Zone (UTC-4), and international calls to use the +1 followed by 264. As of 2025, area code 264 remains the sole code for with no overlays planned, administered by the Administration (), supporting both fixed-line and mobile services provided primarily by local carriers such as Flow and . is still standard within the territory, reflecting its small size and low telephony traffic compared to larger NANP regions.

History

Creation and Split from 809

The (NANP) initially expanded into the in 1958 with the assignment of area code 809 and underwent further adjustments in the 1990s to accommodate rising telephone demand across the region, integrating territories into the unified numbering system shared with the and . Prior to the split, numbers were under 809-4972-XXX, with local calls often dialed using just three digits. In 1958, area code 809 was specifically assigned to and numerous islands to facilitate and incorporate these areas into the NANP framework. By the mid-1990s, the shared 809 area code was approaching exhaustion of its central office prefixes (NXX codes), driven by , , and increased usage in smaller territories such as and the . This strain necessitated relief planning to prevent disruptions in service and ensure sustainable numbering resources for local providers. Bellcore, serving as the NANP administrator at the time, conducted the planning process, evaluating forecasts of code utilization and coordinating with industry stakeholders to design geographic splits that would allocate dedicated codes to individual territories. The resulting split mechanism retained 809 for the bulk of the , particularly larger areas like the , while introducing new codes exclusively for specific locales to optimize prefix distribution and support localized administration. Under this arrangement, area code 264 was designated solely for , a British Overseas Territory, allowing it to manage its own central office codes independently from the broader 809 pool.

Implementation and Activation Date

Area code 264 was officially activated on March 31, 1997, marking it as the 188th area code introduced in the (NANP) and serving exclusively as the dedicated code for following its split from the broader 809 area code. The digits 2-6-4 were selected as they spell 'ANG' on a , abbreviating . This activation enabled the to transition to its own distinct numbering area, facilitating more efficient management of its telecommunications resources within the NANP framework. The rollout included a permissive dialing transition period to minimize disruption for callers, during which both the original 809 and new 264 area codes could be used interchangeably for numbers from the activation date in 1997 until the mandatory switchover on September 30, 1997. This six-month overlap allowed providers and users time to update systems and directories, ensuring a smooth shift without immediate service interruptions. Initial allocations of central office codes (NXX) for area code 264 were conservatively assigned, starting with a limited number of blocks to match Anguilla's small of approximately residents (1997 est.) and correspondingly low demand for lines. These low-volume assignments, managed under NANP guidelines, focused on essential service needs rather than expansive growth projections typical of larger regions.

Geography and Coverage

Territorial Extent

Area code 264 provides exclusive telephone numbering for the entire island of , a British Overseas Territory in the eastern , without any overlay or shared usage with other codes.
It encompasses all 14 administrative districts of Anguilla, including The Valley, North Side, and South Hill.
The code serves the territory's full land area of 91 square kilometers (35 square miles), centered at coordinates 18°15′N 63°10′W, with no extensions to surrounding marine areas or extraterritorial regions.
This dedicated coverage excludes nearby islands such as Saint Martin, which falls under separate NANP area code 721 for its portion.

Population and Settlements

Area code 264 serves the entirety of , a British Overseas Territory with an estimated resident population of 16,010 as of December 2024. This figure is influenced by economic expansion in that attracts workers and seasonal residents. The demographic composition includes approximately 85.3% of African/Black descent, with smaller proportions of (4.9%), mixed (3.8%), and white (3.2%) residents (2011 est.), highlighting a diverse shaped by migration tied to the island's service-oriented economy. Key settlements within the coverage area are predominantly small and dispersed, with no large urban centers. The Valley, the capital and administrative hub, has around 1,298 residents (2011 ) and functions as the primary commercial district. Blowing Point Village, the main for visitors and goods, supports about 825 inhabitants (2011 ) and plays a vital role in facilitating maritime traffic. Other notable smaller villages include Stoney Ground, with roughly 1,577 residents (2011 ), and Long Bay, which features coastal communities focused on and tourism-related activities (part of West End district with 884 residents in 2011 ). These settlements exemplify Anguilla's low-density, village-based structure, encompassing all fourteen districts under uniform area code assignment. Economic factors significantly shape telecommunications usage in these areas, with tourism—accounting for about 37% of GDP through luxury hotels and resorts—driving demand for reliable connectivity among expatriates, visitors, and locals. Offshore and further contribute, fostering a high penetration rate of 155% of the in early 2025, as professionals and operations rely on mobile networks for operations. This widespread adoption underscores the code's role in supporting an economy without distinct urban-rural disparities in service provision.

Technical Details

Dialing Procedures

Within Anguilla, local telephone calls are placed using the seven-digit directory number, without needing to dial the area code prefix. For calls to numbers outside the territory but within the (NANP), the full 10-digit format of 1-264-NXX-XXXX is required. To reach Anguilla from abroad, international callers dial the NANP trunk prefix +1 followed by 264 and the seven-digit local number, resulting in the format +1-264-NXX-XXXX; no separate is used beyond the shared +1 for NANP members. This convention aligns with standard NANP dialing practices across its 20 member countries and territories. Toll-free and special services operate under NANP protocols, with numbers in the , 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833 series available for assignment and routing through area code 264; these are dialed domestically as 1 followed by the toll-free code and seven digits, with the recipient bearing the cost. The universal emergency number 911 connects callers to the Joint Emergency Services Control Room in The Valley for police, , or response. Both landline and mobile telephone numbers in Anguilla utilize the 264 area code prefix, with no distinct formatting for mobiles; there has been a marked shift toward mobile usage, as active cellular connections reached 23.9 thousand by the end of 2025, equivalent to approximately 159% of the population.

Integration with NANP

Area code 264 was assigned by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) in 1997 as a geographic numbering plan area (NPA) within the (NANP), operating under the international country code +1 to serve as one of the Caribbean territories integrated into the system. This assignment expanded the NANP's coverage beyond to include non-continental members, ensuring uniform ten-digit dialing (NPA-NXX-XXXX) across the network while adhering to Recommendation for global interoperability. Central office code (NXX) management for 264 is handled by in coordination with Anguilla's national regulator, with a significant number of NXX codes still available, reflecting low utilization driven by the territory's small population of around 15,000 residents. This results in negligible exhaustion risk, as demand for new codes remains minimal and well below the 800 possible NXX allocations per NPA. Interconnection with carriers in the United States and Canada occurs seamlessly through international undersea fiber optic cables, notably the Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), a 1,730 km repeaterless network linking to 12 other eastern islands and territories and onward to global gateways. This infrastructure supports efficient voice and data routing within the NANP, leveraging shared signaling protocols for direct connectivity without additional international prefixes. As of 2025, no overlays or relief measures are planned for NPA 264, given its stable resource availability; ongoing monitoring is conducted by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) to coordinate regional numbering policies and prevent future constraints.

Predecessor and Successor Codes

Area code 264 traces its origins to area code 809, which was introduced in 1958 as the designated code for and later expanded to encompass and various Caribbean territories, including . This single code served the region's growing telecommunications needs under the (NANP) for nearly four decades. In 1997, due to increasing demand and the need for more efficient number allocation across the , area code 809 underwent a series of splits to create dedicated codes for individual territories. received area code 264 through this process, with the new code activated on March 31, 1997, as a direct split from 809. All telephone numbers in were converted en masse to the 264 prefix during a permissive dialing period, allowing callers to use either code temporarily before mandatory 10-digit dialing with 264 took effect. This transition alleviated the numbering capacity strain on 809, which was subsequently retained for the . As of 2025, area code 264 has no direct successors and remains the sole area code serving all of Anguilla without any splits or overlays. The territory's small population and limited growth in telephone subscriptions have sustained its stability within the NANP framework.

Neighboring Caribbean Codes

Area code 264 serves Anguilla and is geographically proximate to several other Caribbean area codes within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). To the immediate south, across the narrow Anguilla Channel, lies Sint Maarten with area code 721, which covers the southern Dutch portion of the island of Saint Martin; the northern French portion, known as Saint-Martin, operates outside the NANP under the +590 country code of Guadeloupe. Further east across the Anegada Passage are the British Virgin Islands under area code 284, while to the west, beyond the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands use area code 340. These neighboring codes, along with , fall under the unified NANP framework with the +1 country prefix shared across 20 North American and Caribbean countries and territories, enabling standardized 10-digit dialing (1 + area code + 7-digit number) and supporting mobile roaming agreements that allow seamless connectivity for travelers across the Eastern region. This integration simplifies telecommunications infrastructure and promotes economic ties by treating intra-NANP calls as domestic long-distance equivalents, without the need for international prefixes like 011 from within the plan. In terms of usage patterns, smaller territories like with its single area code 264 maintain straightforward numbering without overlays, contrasting with larger nearby islands such as , which employs dual overlaid codes 787 and 939 to handle higher demand and . These overlays were introduced to expand capacity while preserving existing numbers, a measure not yet required in the less populous or its immediate neighbors. Cross-border calling within the NANP incurs no additional international access fees but is typically billed at long-distance or international rates by carriers, depending on the origin and plan; for instance, a call from the U.S. mainland to 264 or 721 is dialed directly as 1 + NPA + number but charged as an international call. From non-NANP countries, such as those in , standard international dialing applies, using the +1 prefix followed by the full number, often at higher per-minute rates. This evolved from the original 809 , which initially encompassed much of the before splits created dedicated codes like 264 in 1997.

References

  1. https://www.allareacodes.com/264
  2. https://countrycode.org/anguilla
  3. https://www.phone2.io/area-codes/264
  4. https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/anguilla
  5. https://areacode.org/264
  6. https://www.areacodelocations.info/2/264.html
  7. https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/planning_letters/PL-038.pdf
  8. https://www.numberverifier.com/post/deep-dive-north-american-numbering-plan
  9. https://www.fcc.gov/north-american-numbering-plan-general-management-and-oversight
  10. https://www.allareacodes.com/809
  11. https://www.thedirectory.org/pref/areacodehistory/an-264-history.htm
  12. https://www.famousfix.com/list/area-code-stubs
  13. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/anguilla-population/
  14. https://www.nanpa.com/resources/area-code-map/territories
  15. https://statoids.com/uai.html
  16. http://statistics.gov.ai/
  17. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/anguilla/
  18. https://www.countryreports.org/country/Anguilla.htm
  19. http://www.citypopulation.de/en/anguilla/cities/
  20. https://www.geonames.org/AI/largest-cities-in-anguilla.html
  21. https://caribbeantravelandtours.com/travel/islands/anguilla/top-towns-villages-anguilla
  22. https://commonwealthchamber.com/associated-territories/anguilla/
  23. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2025-anguilla
  24. https://www.howtocallabroad.com/anguilla/
  25. https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T02020000070001MSWE.doc
  26. https://www.gov.ai/service/emergency-services
  27. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-anguilla
  28. https://www.nanpa.com/about
  29. https://www.nanpa.com/reports/npa-relief-planning-reports
  30. https://www.submarinecablemap.com/submarine-cable/eastern-caribbean-fiber-system-ecfs
  31. https://ctu.int/
  32. https://www.nanpa.com/resources/area-code-maps
  33. https://www.lincmad.com/caribbean.html
  34. https://www.howtocallabroad.com/st-martin/
  35. https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T020200001E0001MSWE.doc
  36. https://www.nanpa.com/sites/default/files/planning_letters/PL-056.pdf
  37. https://www.nanpa.com/
  38. https://www.globalcallforwarding.com/blog/nanp-north-american-numbering-plan-explained/
  39. https://www.allareacodes.com/puerto_rico_area_codes.htm
  40. https://www.howtocallabroad.com/nanp.html
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