E164standardin

The E.164 standard defines a numbering plan for the public switched telephone network and other data networks. It specifies a maximum of 15 digits for an international telephone number. This includes the country code, national destination code, and subscriber number. The standard ensures that telephone numbers are unique worldwide, facilitating international call routing.

E.164 was developed by the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). It is a crucial component for global telecommunications interoperability. The standard dictates the format of these numbers, allowing different telecommunication systems to understand and process them correctly. For example, a number like [phone] conforms to the E.164 structure, with + indicating an international call, 1 being the country code for North America, 212 the area code, and 555 1212 the subscriber number.

The E.164 standard is fundamental for services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and international direct dialing. It provides a framework for assigning and managing these globally unique identifiers, preventing conflicts and ensuring reliable communication across borders. Adherence to E.164 is essential for telecommunication carriers and service providers to operate effectively in the global marketplace.