Calling to Argentina
Making Calls while in Argentina
Other Information about Long Distance Calling To/From Argentina
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General Tips for Making Phone Calls within Argentina
Argentina made major changes to its telephone numbering plan in 1999, after its
telephone system was privatized. The telephone network was split up into three different
areas, with a new digit representing the new telephone company.
In the present, the valid numbers are:
- 011+ 8 digits for numbers in Buenos Aires
- 02+ 9 digits for numbers in southern provinces under Telefónica
-
03+ 9 digits for numbers in northern provinces under Telecom
Similarly, the digit 4 was added to existing subscribers' numbers. For example,
before the change, a number in Buenos Aires would have been dialed as follows:
- xxx xxxx (within Buenos Aires)
- (01) xxx xxxx (within Argentina)
-
+54 1 xxx xxxx (outside Argentina)
After the 1999 change, it would instead be dialed as:
- 4xxx xxxx (within Buenos Aires)
- (011) 4xxx xxxx (within Argentina)
-
+54 11 4xxx xxxx (outside Argentina)
Mobile phone calls within Argentina
Almost all Cell phones in Argentina operate with a calling party pays (CPP) system.
That means that whoever initiates the call pays for it. For this reason, Cell phones
in Argentina usually start with number 15. Since calls to cell phones are more expensive
than land calls in Argentina, this prefix indicates the calling party that this
call is going to cost more.
For instance if a user wanted to call a Buenos Aires CPP cell phone, from within
Buenos Aires, he/she would have to dial:
Should the user want to call a cell phone in another province, he/she would
have to add the local prefix, e.g.:
- 0351 15 xxx-xxxx if it is a Córdoba cell phone
- 0341 15 xxx-xxxx if it is a Rosario cell phone
-
03833 15 xx-xxxx if it is a Catamarca cellphone
Non-CPP phones are available for purchase, and the calling and numbering is the
same as the land numbers (non 15) but few users choose this numbers since that means
that they would have incoming and outgoing calls deducted from their monthly minute
allocation as opposed to just the outgoing.
Receiving calls from abroad
Since 2003, the digit 9 had to be dialed when calling CPP mobile phone numbers
in Argentina from abroad:
-
+54 9 11 xxxx xxxx (Note that the 15 prefix should not be dialed from outside Argentina)
Phone calls from abroad to a land line (or non-CPP mobile phone), however, are
dialed "normally." For example:
Other calls and numbers
Toll-free numbers in Argentina must be dialed the following way:
Numbers that are paid as local calls countrywide start with 0810. These numbers
are mostly used by companies that have branches in different provinces and only
one call center, and cannot be dialed from abroad:
Subscriber dial-up Internet access in Argentina gets a special, reduced-tariff
number:
This is because there is a number of ISPs that provide "free" dial-up access through
standard cost phone numbers that do not use the 0610 prefix. In these cases, the
user does not need to pay a subscription cost, he/she only pays for the standard
telephone call (usually a local telephone number in major cities); then the telephone
company gives the "free" ISP a fraction of what the user pays for the call.
However, 0610 tends to be confused with "gaming" phones, where a special 3 pesos
+ VAT tariff is quoted. These numbers always have to be dialed like this:
All 0800, 0810 and 0609 have the same number countrywide. However, 0610 only can
be used in the Internet Service Provider's area.
Some of the reserved, toll-free special numbers are:
Emergencies:
- 100 Firehouse
- 101 Police
-
107 Ambulance
Starting in January 2004, in the Province of Buenos Aires, the new emergency number
will be 911. Unlike 100, 101 and 107, 911 will have people trained for the task
of handling emergencies.
The newer 911 dispatcher sends police from a randomly selected police station, instead
of the station assigned for that specific area. This measure was added to avoid
the "liberated zones" where dirty cops allow crooks to commit numerous crimes without
arresting them.
Services:
- 110 Phone Listings (Similar to 411 in the US)
- 112 Customer Care (for telephone customers)
- 113 Official time
- 114 Phone repair
- 115 Ring test
-
121 Phone usage info (delayed 24 or more hours)
Tips for Calling Internationally from Argentina
When making domestic long-distance calls in Argentina, place a 0 before the area
code. For international calls, add 00 before the country code. Direct dialing to
North America and Europe is available from most phones.
International, as well as domestic, calls are expensive in Argentina, especially
from hotels (rates fall 10pm-8am). You can buy international calling cards from
kiosks located on almost every street corner of Buenos Aires. Calls can also be
made from the locutorios (manned phone booths, who often have computers for Internet
access as well).
Public phones take either phone cards (sold at kiosks on the street) or coins (less
common). Local calls cost 20 centavos to start and charge more the longer you talk.
Telecentro offices -- found everywhere in city centers -- offer private phone booths
where calls are paid when completed. Most hotels offer fax services, as do all telecentro
offices. Dial 110 for directory assistance (most operators speak English) and 000
to reach an international operator.
There are numerous Internet Cafes all over the city of Buenos Aires. They will charge
between US$0.30-$0.60 per hour, depending on their location. The connections are
fast, very reliable. If you bring your laptop or notebook, you can access it from
the various Wi-Fi enabled restaurants and cafes in the city.