ITU announced that the world’s newest nation, the
Republic of South Sudan, has been assigned the international dialing code 211,
following the country’s formal recognition as a UN Member State.
The 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.
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,” said Hamadoun Toure, secretary general, ITU.
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,” Toure added.
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
signaling area/network code (SANC). SANCs facilitate all telephone calls by
indicating how calls should be routed.
By TelecomLead.com Team
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