Mobile Phone Area Codes in the Philippines – Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular, TM, TNT
Looking up a Philippine mobile “area code”? For mobile numbers, the useful term is mobile prefix: the first four digits of the local 11-digit number, such as 0917. A landline area code, such as 02 for Greater Metro Manila, works differently. A prefix can suggest where a mobile number was first issued, but it cannot prove the number’s current network because subscribers can keep their numbers when changing carriers. Jump to the FAQs.
| What you have | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Local mobile number | An 11-digit mobile number; the first four digits are its prefix | 0917 123 4567 |
| International mobile number | Replace the opening 0 with country code +63 | +63 917 123 4567 |
| Landline area code | A geographic calling code, not a mobile carrier label | 02 for Greater Metro Manila |
The country code +63 appears in the ITU’s national numbering-plan listing. PLDT’s Greater Metro Manila instructions use 02 plus an eight-digit landline number. Do not add a landline area code to a mobile number.
Quick guide to historical mobile-prefix families
| Common example | Historical association | Practical caution |
|---|---|---|
| 0917 | Globe / TM family | Confirm the active provider before buying a network-only promo |
| 0918 | Smart / TNT family | Confirm the active provider before buying a network-only promo |
| 0931 | Legacy Sun Cellular / Smart family | Sun Prepaid moved to Smart Prepaid |
| 0895 | A mobile number in the 089x range | Check the actual provider rather than assuming 09 is required |
These are examples, not a live carrier lookup. The NTC assigned 089x to cellular mobile service in a 2020 circular, so Philippine mobile numbers do not all start with 09. Historic brand labels can overlap within the Globe/TM and Smart/TNT families.
Find the original-prefix list for your brand
Use those lists to identify a likely original assignment. They cannot prove that a particular number is still on that carrier. Online directories can also disagree about brand-level labels within the same network family. For a payment or a restricted promo, verify the registered provider with the number holder or the provider’s official account app.
Why a prefix no longer guarantees the active network
Mobile Number Portability lets eligible users move between participating networks while keeping the same mobile number. A person originally issued a 0917 number can keep 0917 after a transfer. See our step-by-step mobile number portability guide for eligibility, the USC, activation and unused-load checks. Telecommunications Connectivity Inc., which runs the portability service, and Smart’s portability guide explain the process. Even a correct historic prefix list cannot identify whether an individual number has since ported.
- For a network-only call or text promo: read the offer’s terms and ask the recipient which carrier currently serves the number.
- For prepaid loading: select the network shown by the recipient’s account or SIM, then confirm the full number before paying.
- For an international contact: save +63 followed by the mobile number without its first zero.
Mobile prefix versus landline area code
A mobile prefix points to a mobile number range. A landline area code points to a geographic calling area. 0917 is part of a mobile number; 02 precedes an eight-digit Greater Metro Manila fixed-line number when dialed domestically. If you need to call a landline from a phone, see our Smart/Sun prepaid landline dialing guide for the complete format.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 0917 number always Globe?
No. It is historically associated with Globe or TM, but the holder may have moved it to another carrier through mobile number portability.
Are Sun Cellular numbers still a separate prepaid network?
PLDT reported that Sun Prepaid subscribers were rebranded as Smart Prepaid in 2020. A Sun-labelled prefix may still appear, but it does not imply a separate current Sun Prepaid balance or promo system.
Is 02 a mobile prefix?
No. 02 is a Greater Metro Manila landline area code. A mobile prefix is part of a mobile number such as 0917.
Sources and last checked
Checked 5 October 2026. The examples describe historical associations; number portability means the active carrier must be confirmed separately.
