NANP stands for North American Numbering Plan. It is a telephone numbering system widely used in North America, including the United States, Canada, and various Caribbean countries. The NANP was established in 1947 to streamline and organize the growing telephone systems in these countries, facilitating communication between them.
The primary purpose of the NANP is to allocate and administer unique telephone numbers to each individual subscriber within its member countries. This allows for efficient and consistent dialing patterns across the region, ensuring that callers can reach their intended destinations without confusion or errors.
Under the NANP, each telephone number consists of a three-digit area code followed by a seven-digit local number. The area code represents a specific geographic region or, in some cases, a non-geographic service. The local number is unique to each subscriber within that area code.
The NANP also includes special prefix codes for various services, such as toll-free numbers, emergency services, and international calls. These numbers are typically dialed with specific codes, ensuring reliable and direct connections for the intended purpose.
Overall, the NANP plays a crucial role in organizing and managing telephone numbering across North America, facilitating efficient communication within and between its member countries.
