- Prefix
028 9- Area
- Northern Ireland
- Number type
- Geographic landline (01/02)
- Format
028 9XXX XXXX- From abroad
+44 28 9XXX XXXX- Ofcom blocks in range
- 2,953
- Blocks in service
- 782
- Range holders
- 133
What are 028 9XXX XXXX numbers?
Any UK number matching 028 9XXX XXXX sits in the
028 dialling code for Northern Ireland.
Ofcom hands these numbers to communications providers in blocks; this range
contains 2,953 blocks, of which
782 are allocated and usable. Calls from these
numbers are typically homes and businesses in the Northern Ireland area — or
organisations elsewhere that keep a local 028 presence using
VoIP.
028 9649 6000 falls in this range and is reserved by Ofcom for TV and radio dramas — it can never connect to a real subscriber, which is why we use it as the live example above.
Who holds 028 9… number ranges?
| Range holder (allocated by Ofcom) | Number blocks | Example range |
|---|---|---|
| BT | 145 | 028 9004 XXXX |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 36 | 028 9008 XXXX |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 33 | 028 9012 XXXX |
| Virgin Media Limited | 28 | 028 9020 XXXX |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 24 | 028 9002 XXXX |
| Colt Technology Services | 14 | 028 9162 4XXX |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 13 | 028 9105 XXXX |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 13 | 028 9106 XXXX |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 11 | 028 9161 XXXX |
| Sky UK Limited | 11 | 028 9107 XXXX |
| Barritel Limited | 10 | 028 9199 XXXX |
| Six Degrees Technology Group Limited | 10 | 028 9555 0XXX |
…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 2,953 blocks Ofcom lists, 2,124 are protected (reserved by Ofcom and not in use) and 42 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 028 9… number safe?
A local-looking number is never proof of who is calling: fraudsters spoof 028 caller IDs so their calls look like they come from Northern Ireland (‘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 028 9XXX 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 028 number ranges
Full 028 Northern Ireland area-code guide › · All UK area codes ›