Australian Numbering Plan

Australia uses a structured telecommunications numbering system managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Most common consumer-facing Australian numbers are 10 digits long, beginning with a two-digit numbering prefix that determines service type and, for geographic allocations, regional assignment.

When dialling domestically, the leading zero is included. When dialling from overseas, the zero is replaced with the country code +61.

The overview below summarises high-level public numbering structures and does not reproduce the full ACMA numbering plan documentation. Reverseau references publicly available numbering structures for classification purposes only.

Service Type Categories

Reverseau classifies numbers into service types based on their numbering allocation. The primary service types in the Australian numbering plan are:

Geographic (Landline) Numbers

Landline numbers are assigned to geographic regions via four two-digit numbering prefixes. Each prefix covers one or more states and territories:

02 — New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Sub-ranges such as 02 9X are commonly associated with metropolitan Sydney, though allocations may vary.
03 — Victoria and Tasmania. Sub-ranges such as 03 9X and 03 8X are commonly associated with metropolitan Melbourne.
07 — Queensland. Sub-ranges such as 07 3X are commonly associated with Brisbane metropolitan areas.
08 — South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. The geographically largest numbering prefix, covering multiple states and territories with overlapping sub-ranges.

These are common associations based on ACMA numbering areas, not a guarantee of caller location. Geographic prefixes indicate numbering allocation regions, not real-time caller presence.

Mobile Numbers (04)

All Australian mobile numbers start with 04, followed by 8 additional digits. Mobile numbers are not tied to a geographic region. Mobile allocations significantly exceed geographic landline allocations.

Local Rate Numbers (1300)

1300 numbers are shared-cost business numbers. Callers are typically charged at the cost of a local call, while the business pays the remaining per-minute charge. 1300 numbers are 10 digits long and are commonly used by customer service departments, booking lines, and government enquiry centres. Call costs vary by provider, plan, and call origination (mobile/VoIP/landline).

Toll-Free Numbers (1800)

1800 numbers are generally free to call from Australian landlines, with the receiving organisation bearing the cost. Calls from mobile or VoIP services may incur charges depending on provider and plan. Used by government helplines, large corporations, and services where reducing the cost barrier is important.

Premium Rate Numbers (1900)

1900 numbers charge callers a premium rate per minute or per call, subject to regulatory pricing disclosure requirements. ACMA regulates these numbers, and providers must disclose pricing. Used for entertainment, information services, and competitions.

Numbering Allocation Reference

The following table summarises the Australian numbering ranges tracked within the Reverseau dataset. Record counts reflect numbers present within the dataset and do not represent the total volume of numbers allocated nationally.

Numbering Range	Service Type / Region	Records Currently Indexed
02	NSW/ACT	962,872
03	VIC/TAS	758,517
07	QLD	441,393
08	SA/WA/NT	427,624
04	Mobile	2,781,892
1300	Local Rate	0
1800	Freephone	0
1900	Premium Rate	0

Counts reflect records currently indexed by Reverseau (observed coverage), not national allocation totals. A zero count means no records are currently present in the dataset for that range, not that the range is unused or unallocated.

Record counts fluctuate as new reports are received and as dataset coverage expands.

Allocation vs. Ownership

A critical distinction in telecommunications data is the difference between allocation and ownership:

Allocation refers to the carrier to which a number range was originally allocated by ACMA (range holder). Allocation data is publicly available but may not reflect the current retail provider due to number portability.
Ownership (or current user) refers to the individual, business, or entity that holds the number. Ownership information is not publicly disclosed and is not available through allocation records.

Reverseau displays allocation metadata sourced from publicly available ACMA records. Allocation data does not confirm caller identity, business ownership, or current use of a number. Numbers within the same allocation range may be assigned to entirely different end users by the carrier. Reverseau does not have access to subscriber records or carrier-level customer databases.

Number Portability

Australia supports number portability, meaning individuals and businesses can transfer their phone number between carriers without changing the number itself. As a result, allocation data reflects the original assignment of a number range and may not reflect the current carrier routing the number.

Number Reallocation

Carriers periodically reallocate phone numbers that have been disconnected or returned. A number that was previously used by one entity may be reassigned to a completely different entity. Historical community reports on Reverseau may therefore reflect the experience of a previous holder, not the current one. This limitation is documented in Data Limitations.

Service Type vs. Community Classification

Service type refers to the telecommunications structure of a number (e.g., geographic, mobile, toll-free) and is determined by its numbering allocation. Community classification reflects aggregated reporting patterns submitted by contributors and is independent of service type. A number's service type does not imply any particular community classification, and community reports should be interpreted within the context of the Reporting Signal Evaluation Framework.

Number Classification System