S Sudan gets 211 dial code

The Republic of South Sudan, has today been assigned the international dialling code 211.

ITU has announce that the world’s newest nation, the Republic of South Sudan, has today been assigned the international dialling code 211, following the country’s formal recognition as a UN Member State.

The fledgling South Sudan Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services welcomed the new code, which has particular resonance for South Sudan’s citizens as representing the year in which South Sudan gained independence (2011), the date of its referendum (which took place in the first day of the first month of 2011), and a symbol of good fortune. The number had been specifically requested following a special Council of Ministers Resolution.

Dr Hamadoun Tour√©, Secretary General, ITU: ‚A country code may seem like a small thing, but it is a real signifier of sovereignty and independence. We join with the international community in congratulating the government and people of South Sudan on achieving full nationhood. As a young developing country there will be challenges, but the power of modern connectivity will bring a tremendous boost in areas such as commerce, health and education. ITU is here to help with advice on the necessary steps towards improved connectivity.‚

On independence and recognition by the UN General Assembly, a country can apply to ITU for a country code. In this case, ITU officials had been in contact with South Sudanese officials since January 2011 to explain the procedures in the case of independence, which meant the country code could be pre-allocated and assigned as soon as the UN General Assembly gave South Sudan recognition.

The global country code numbering system is defined in an ITU standard known as ITU-T Recommendation E.164. ITU communicates this information to other Member States and the world’s telecommunication operators in a publication called the ITU Operational Bulletin, which will also detail the transitional numbering plan from the previous to the new country code. In addition to the country code, the Government of the Republic of South Sudan will be assigned a mobile country code (MCC) and a signalling area/network code (SANC). SANCs facilitate all telephone calls by indicating how calls should be routed.

South Sudan does not yet have an Internet country code – the domain suffix that appears at the end of a web site address – but its Ministry of Communications has applied for the ss code.

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