Area code 868

Area code 868 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the Caribbean country Trinidad and Tobago, assigned in 1996, and in service since 1. June 1997.

Telephone numbers in Trinidad and Tobago

Location of Trinidad and Tobago
Country	Trinidad and Tobago
Continent	North America
Membership	NANP
Numbering plan type	Closed
Format	868 nxx xxxx
Country code	1
International access	011
Long-distance	1
List of Trinidad and Tobago area codes

The internal telephone numbering plan of the country is known as the National Numbering Plan.^[1] It regulates the assignment of telephone numbers by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, which holds responsibility for telecommunications in the country.^[2]

Due to a long established affiliation with NANP,^[3] telephone numbers in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago are often styled as "(868) NXX-xxxx". The International Telecommunications Union's standards such as E.164^[4] and E.123 recommend the inclusion of a "+1" prefix to indicate 868 is a part of the NANP.^[5]

History

Area code 868 was created by a split of area code 809 which had been serving all of the Caribbean until the 1990s. A permissive dialing period commenced from 1 June 1997^[6] to 31 May 1998, after which all calls placed to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago required the new prefix.^[6] The local telephone regulator proposed the area code 868, which spells TNT -- an abbreviation for Trinidad and Tobago -- on a telephone keypad, to reflect the nation's identity within the NANP.

Dialing to Trinidad and Tobago

• From within North America (NANP)

When calling Trinidad and Tobago from elsewhere in the North American Numbering Plan (e.g., from the United States or Canada), callers dial as if undertaking regular ten-digit dialing within those countries. Callers must simply dial 1 + 868 + seven digit phone number.

• From outside NANP

When calling to Trinidad and Tobago from outside the NANP (e.g., from the United Kingdom), callers must dial their international dialing prefix followed by 1 to access the North American Numbering Plan. For example, a call placed from the United Kingdom would be dialled as 00 + 1 + 868 + local seven digit phone number.

Dialing within Trinidad and Tobago

When placing a phone call from Trinidad and Tobago, also known as HNPA (home numbering plan area) dialing, callers simply use seven-digit dialing (i.e. dialing the last seven digits of the phone number).

• To North America (NANP)

When calling other places in the North American Numbering Plan, callers dial as if undertaking regular ten-digit dialing in those countries. Callers dial 1 + NPA area code + seven digit phone number.

Though usually toll-free when dialed from the US, not all 1-800 phone numbers are toll-free when dialed from Trinidad and Tobago, and may be treated as a toll call.

• To areas outside the NANP

When calling to areas outside the NANP (e.g., the United Kingdom), callers dial 011 + country calling code + phone number. In the case of the UK, a user would dial 011 + 44 + UK phone number.

General

National Operations Centre: 911, Police Force: 999, Ambulance: 811, Fire: 990

Information/Directory Assistance: 6411,^[7] 611 (proposed replacement)^[1]

Operator: 0

See also

• List of North American Numbering Plan area codes
• Area codes in the Caribbean