Understanding Phone Number Ranges in Australia

Introduction

If you've noticed that your Crazytel phone number starts with a different prefix than your neighbor's or your business phone, you might wonder why these differences exist. This article explains the phone number allocation system in Australia and why VoIP providers like Crazytel may assign numbers with different prefixes even in the same geographic area.

Understanding Phone Number Ranges in Australia

In Australia, phone numbers are allocated in specific ranges (or prefixes) that were traditionally tied to particular geographic exchanges. These number ranges are managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and were historically distributed among the major telecommunications providers.

Why Your Crazytel Number May Have a Different Prefix

Historical Ownership of Number Ranges

The original number ranges in Australia are primarily owned by established telecommunications companies like Telstra and Optus. These companies secured these ranges during the early development of Australia's telecommunications infrastructure. As a result:

Most "traditional" or familiar number prefixes remain under the control of these major providers
VoIP providers like Crazytel are allocated newer or different number ranges
This explains why your number might start with a different prefix than what you're used to seeing in your area

Geographic Association Remains Unchanged

Despite having different prefixes, it's important to understand that:

Crazytel numbers are still assigned to the same exchange locations as traditional numbers
They maintain the same geographic association as the original PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) numbers
They are treated equally by the telecommunications system
The only difference is the initial digits of the number

Impact on Customers

Having a number with a different prefix has no negative impact on service quality or functionality. Your Crazytel number:

Is recognized as belonging to your geographic area
Functions exactly like any other local number
Can receive calls from and make calls to any other number
Maintains all standard telecommunications features

Availability of Specific Suburbs

At Crazytel, we strive to maintain a wide inventory of phone numbers across Australia. We understand the importance of having a local prefix for your suburb, so we actively work to secure number ranges covering as many areas as possible. However, due to factors such as lower demand or limited supply, certain less-requested suburbs may not always be in our current inventory. Rest assured, we continually update and expand our offerings to better accommodate our customers’ needs.

Conclusion

While it may seem unusual to have a phone number with a different prefix than others in your neighborhood, this is simply due to how number ranges are allocated to telecommunications providers. Your Crazytel number maintains all the same geographic associations and functionalities as traditional numbers, even though the prefix might be different.