Telephony in Switzerland

Number	Deutsch	English	Français	Italiano	Number
117	Polizei	Police	Police	Polizia	117
118	Feuerwehr	Fire department	Pompiers	Vigili del fuoco	118
144	Sanität	Emergency rescue service (Ambulance)	Ambulances	Emergenza sanitaria	144
1414 1415	Rettungshelikopter Rega / Air-Glaciers	Rescue by helicopter Rega / Air-Glaciers	Hélicoptère de sauvetage Rega / Air-Glaciers	Elicottero di salataggio Rega / Air-Glaciers	1414 1415
145	Vergiftungs-Notfälle	Poisoning emergencies	Intoxication, appel d'urgence	Casi urgenti d'intossicazione	145
140	Strassenhilfe	Emergency road service	Secours routiers	Soccorso stradale	140
143	Die dargebotene Hand	The helping hand	La main tendue	Telefono amico	143
147	Telefonhilfe für Kinder und Jugendliche	Telephone support for children and kids	Ligne d'aide aux enfants et aux jeunes	Linea per bambini e giovani	147

Number	Deutsch	English	Français	Italiano	Number
1811	Auskunft Inland	Inquiries for Switzerland	Renseignements pour la Suisse	Informazioni per la Svizzera	1811
1151	Internationale Auskunft für Oesterreich	International inquiries for Austria	Renseignements internationaux par Austriche	Informazioni internazionali per Austria	1151
1152	Internationale Auskunft für Deutschland	International inquiries for Germany	Renseignements internationaux par Allemagne	Informazioni internazionali per Germania	1152
1153	Internationale Auskunft für Frankreich	International inquiries for France	Renseignements internationaux par France	Informazioni internazionali per Francia	1153
1154	Internationale Auskunft für Italien	International inquiries for Italy	Renseignements internationaux par Italie	Informazioni internazionali per Italia	1154
1159	Internationale Auskunft für die übrigen Länder	International inquiries for other countries	Renseignements internationaux concernant les autres pays	Informazioni internazionali concernenti altri Paesi	1159
1141	Internationale Vermittlung	International operator	Commutation internationale	Commutazione internazionale	1141
1144	Nationale Vermittlung für Mobiltelefone	National operator for cellular phones	Commutation nationale (Mobile)	Commutazione nazionale (Mobile)	1144

Number	Deutsch	English	Français	Italiano	Number
161	Sprechende Uhr	Talking clock	Horloge parlante	Ora esatta	161
162	Wetterprognosen	Weather forecast	Prévisions météorologiques	Previsioni del tempo	162
163	Strassenzustand, Verkehrsinformationen	Road conditions and traffic news	Etat des routes, informations sur la circulation routière	Stato della strada, informazioni sul traffico	163
164	Sportresultate, Gewinnzahlen und -quoten	Sport results, lottery results	Résultats sportifs, Chiffres gagnants / répartition des gains	Risultati sportivi, numeri vincenti / quote vincenti	164
175	Störungsannahme	Telephone fault assistance	Enregistrements des dérangements	Accettazione guasti	175
187	Lawinenbulletin, aktuelle Wettermeldungen	Avalanche report, weather conditions	Bulletin des avalaches, Informations météorologiques	Bollettino delle valanghe, Informazioni sul tempo attuale	187
1600	Regionale Informationen	Local information	Informations regionale	Informzioni regionale	1600
0900 77 hh mm	Automatischer Weckdienst: Ersetzen Sie hh mit der Stunde und mm mit der Minute der gewünschten Weckzeit Beispiel: Wenn Sie um 07:45 Uhr geweckt werden möchten, wählen Sie 0900 77 0745	Automated wake up call: Replace hh with the hour, mm with the minute of the time you wish to be called. Example: If you wish to be called at 7 45 AM, dial 0900 77 0745	Service automatique de réveil: Composer le 0900 77 suivi des quatre chiffres de l'heure du réveil. Par example 0900 77 0745 pour être réveillé à 07 h 45	Servizio automatico di sveglia	0900 77 hh mm

Telephony in Switzerland was de-monopolized during the last decade of the 20th century. Before that, telephony and telecommunication services in Switzerland were provided by the government through the PTT ("Post, Telefon, Telegramm" - Postal services, Telephony, Telegraphy). The PTT has been divided into the postal service (Post) and the telecommunication services (swisscom). Both companies are now organized as a "Aktiengesellschaft" (public limited company), but the government still holds the majority of the shares.

In the area of telecommunication, there are now a number of private companies which also offer their services within Switzerland, including Orange and Sunrise.

Switzerland is divided into about 20 areas, called "Vorkennzahlenbereiche" (originally geographical areas with the same area code). A phone number consists of the area code and a local phone number. The area code has three digits and starts with a zero, such as 022 for Geneva. The local phone number has usually 7 digits, but there are numbers with only 5 or 6 digits.
Since May 1 2002, the area code is now part of the phone number. The area code has lost its true meaning and must now be dialed even if calling a phone number within the same area. However, when calling one of the emergency, operator or service phone numbers listed above, no area code applies.

In addition, there are some area codes not assigned to a particular geographical area, but which have special meanings:

• 156 and 157: Services with additional charges (area code 156 is dedicated to adults only services). These numbers will be replaced by 0900, 0901 and 0906 numbers.
• 0800: Charges paid by the receiver (toll free numbers).
• 0840: Business numbers for ISP (Internet Service Providers, charges depend on type of service and time of day).
• 0842 / 0844 / 0848: Business phone numbers (same charges nation wide).
• 058: Business phone numbers (local call charges apply, but charges vary depending on time of call).
• 0900 and 0901: Services with additional charges.
• 0906: Services with additional charges, reserved for adults only services.
• 076 / 078 / 079: Cellular phones.

Area codes in Switzerland (click on the image to enlarge):

Source: swisscom phone book 1999

Note 1: The area code 01 for Zürich was replaced by 043 and 044.

Note 2: The area code is now part of the local phone number. The geographic assignment will fade over the years because people will keep their phone number when they move even if they leave the area where the area code belonged to.

International calls from Switzerland to any country do not require operator assistance. For international calls dial 00 (zero zero), the country code, the area code plus the local phone number. Please note that in some countries, the leading zero of the area code must not be dialed.

International calls to Switzerland are fully automated and do not require operator assistance in Switzerland. However, an operator may be required in the origin country. To call a number in Switzerland, dial what ever is required for an international call, such as 00 (zero zero), then 41 (country code for Switzerland), then the phone number without the leading zero of the area code.

Example: Lets assume you wish to call TRAMsoft GmbH, located in Hittnau (area code 044) with 995 1570 as their local phone number. In addition, lets assume you have to dial 00 (zero zero) for an international call.
Then you have to dial 0041 44 995 1570

Cellular phones registered in Switzerland have their own area code. In the early days of mobile telephony, it used to be 086, now it is 076, 078 or 079 depending on the provider. Coverage depends on the provider. swisscom covers most of the country, the privately owned companies are building up their network, but cover at least the large cities, such as Zürich, Bern, Basel, Geneva and so on.