- Prefix
023 8- Area
- Southampton / Portsmouth
- Number type
- Geographic landline (01/02)
- Format
023 8XXX XXXX- From abroad
+44 23 8XXX XXXX- Ofcom blocks in range
- 300
- Blocks in service
- 241
- Range holders
- 133
What are 023 8XXX XXXX numbers?
Any UK number matching 023 8XXX XXXX sits in the
023 dialling code for Southampton / Portsmouth.
Ofcom hands these numbers to communications providers in blocks; this range
contains 300 blocks, of which
241 are allocated and usable. Calls from these
numbers are typically homes and businesses in the Southampton / Portsmouth area — or
organisations elsewhere that keep a local 023 presence using
VoIP.
Who holds 023 8… number ranges?
| Range holder (allocated by Ofcom) | Number blocks | Example range |
|---|---|---|
| BT | 59 | 023 8013 XXXX |
| Virgin Media Limited | 15 | 023 8032 XXXX |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 12 | 023 8001 XXXX |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 9 | 023 8005 XXXX |
| Sky UK Limited | 5 | 023 8019 XXXX |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 3 | 023 8109 XXXX |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 3 | 023 8007 XXXX |
| IOVOX Limited | 3 | 023 8210 XXXX |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 3 | 023 8114 XXXX |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 2 | 023 8000 XXXX |
| Colt Technology Services | 2 | 023 8212 XXXX |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 2 | 023 8211 XXXX |
…and 121 more providers hold smaller allocations in this range.
Ofcom’s data shows the provider each number range was originally allocated to — not who holds an individual number today. Numbers are frequently moved (ported) between providers, and no public database reveals the person or business behind a specific number, so treat any service that claims to with suspicion.
Not every block in this range is in service: of the 300 blocks Ofcom lists, 51 are protected (reserved by Ofcom and not in use) and 7 are free/unallocated. A call appearing to come from an unallocated block is a strong sign of a spoofed number.
Is a call from a 023 8… number safe?
A local-looking number is never proof of who is calling: fraudsters spoof 023 caller IDs so their calls look like they come from Southampton / Portsmouth (‘neighbour spoofing’). If an unexpected caller asks for personal, banking or one-time-code details, hang up and ring the organisation back on a number you find independently. To put a name to a caller, see who called me?; to report one, see how to report a scam number.
Check a specific 023 8XXX XXXX number
Paste any full number into the checker above (or on the main phone number checker) to see its exact range holder and allocation status from this week’s Ofcom data.
Run mobiles for a business? See our business mobile network comparison or get a quote.
More 023 number ranges
Full 023 Southampton / Portsmouth area-code guide › · All UK area codes ›