British Indian Ocean Territory (+246) dialing prefix simplified.
The BIOT hosts Diego Garcia, the Indian Ocean's key US-UK military base. Ringflow provides +246 routing for authorized defense and government contacts.
Everything about calling BIOT.
The British Indian Ocean Territory uses a five-digit numbering plan under +246. Diego Garcia hosts a major US-UK military base; access for non-government calls is extremely restricted.
British Indian Ocean Territory country information
Three ways to call British Indian Ocean Territory right now.
Dial +246 then the five-digit number. Civilian access is limited to authorized government and defense contractors. Ringflow routes via approved military and government channels.
Direct calls using landlines & mobile phones
Dial British Indian Ocean Territory directly from any landline or mobile by entering your international exit code, then the country code +246, and finally the local number.
International calling cards for British Indian Ocean Territory
Pre-paid international calling cards remain a convenient, low-cost way to reach British Indian Ocean Territory. Each card gives you a PIN and an access number to place global calls.
VoIP services for contacting British Indian Ocean Territory
VoIP apps like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber — and business VoIP from Ringflow — route calls to British Indian Ocean Territory over the internet, usually at far lower rates than traditional carriers.
BIOT at a glance.
A British Overseas Territory in the central Indian Ocean, comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Diego Garcia hosts one of the world's most strategically important joint US-UK military installations.
How to call the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Dial +246 then the five-digit number. Access is restricted — only defense contractors and authorized government personnel typically have routing to BIOT numbers.
Number anatomy
Start with the exit prefix
Press + on a mobile (hold the 0 key), or dial 00 from most countries, or 011 from North America.
Add the British Indian Ocean Territory code
Dial +246. This identifies British Indian Ocean Territory on the global telephone network.
Enter the area or mobile prefix
Type the first part of the local number. Drop the leading 0 if there is one.
Finish with the subscriber number
The remaining digits route the call to the specific line in Diego Garcia or elsewhere.
Dialling British Indian Ocean Territory (+246) from other countries
The exit prefix changes by origin; the British Indian Ocean Territory code stays +246.
| Calling from | Exit prefix | You dial, then the national number |
|---|---|---|
| United States & Canada | 011 | 011 246 |
| United Kingdom & most of Europe | 00 | 00 246 |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 246 |
| Japan | 010 | 010 246 |
| Any mobile (E.164) | + | +246 |
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FAQ
Calling BIOT, answered.
What defense and government contractors ask before dialling BIOT on +246.
Connect to BIOT on authorized defense and government routes.
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Dialling British Indian Ocean Territory without misdialling
British Indian Ocean Territory’s calling code is +246 , which puts it in Africa, plus a few Atlantic and Indian Ocean territories. The codes below are the ones a caller actually reaches by mistake, so they are worth checking before a number goes into a CRM or an outbound list.
| Dial this by mistake | and you reach | Why it happens |
|---|---|---|
| +244 | Angola | One digit out on the last position |
| +242 | Congo | One digit out on the last position |
| +240 | Equatorial Guinea | One digit out on the last position |
| +241 | Gabon | One digit out on the last position |