Portugal's mobile numbering system uses the prefixes '96' through '99'. Within this, two specific sub-prefixes, BB and BC (referring to the third and fourth digits, representing '61' and '60' respectively), have historically carried distinct connotations, although their practical differences have blurred over time.
Historically, numbers beginning with 96BC (966) were often associated with Vodafone customers. This was a common perception, stemming from the way network operators were allocated number ranges during the evolution of mobile telephony.
Conversely, numbers starting with 96BB (961) were frequently linked to TMN, which later became MEO (Portugal Telecom). Similar to the 966 prefix, 961 became strongly associated with MEO's subscriber base.
Use Cases and Practicality:
In the past, recognizing these prefixes (966 for Vodafone, 961 for MEO) could offer a portugal phone number list quick, albeit not foolproof, way to potentially gauge the network provider of a caller or the likely origin of a number. This might have been relevant for specific business routing decisions or internal categorization within organizations.
However, it's crucial to understand that this distinction is largely historical and not operationally significant today. The Portuguese regulatory framework allows for number portability. This means customers can switch mobile operators (MEO, Vodafone, NOS) without changing their phone number. Consequently, a number starting with 966 could belong to a MEO customer who ported their number, and a 961 number could belong to a Vodafone customer.
Therefore, relying on the BB (961) or BC (966) prefixes to determine the current network operator is generally unreliable. Modern telecommunications systems handle routing based on the full number, regardless of the original prefix association. Use cases that once might have considered these prefixes are now obsolete due to the widespread adoption of number portability.