Area code 02 – NSW & ACT
The 02 area code covers NSW & ACT (the Central East charging region). The ACMA register lists 20,549 number blocks under it with about 42.4m allocated numbers, split between 38 carriers across 576 town-level numbering areas. Calls from this prefix normally come from NSW & ACT landlines; the number on your screen can still be spoofed and doesn't prove the location.
02 is the oldest of the four surviving area codes in its current shape: Sydney already dialled 02 before the national renumbering of the 1990s, when Australia collapsed dozens of regional codes into four and moved every landline to eight digits. Canberra gave up its old 06 code and joined 02 with numbers starting 6, which is why the register lists the ACT capital under the same area code as Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong; regional NSW centres such as Newcastle (formerly 049) and Wollongong (042) were folded in the same way.
Source: ACMA register, data as of 16/10/2026
Where 02 numbers are
Matching the register's numbering areas to ABS localities places 507 of the 576 areas under 02: 492 in New South Wales, 13 in Victoria and 2 in the Australian Capital Territory. The 13 outside New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are border exchanges whose numbering area follows the old exchange boundary across the state line: Barnawartha (VIC), Bendoc (VIC), Bonang (VIC), Corryong (VIC), Cudgewa (VIC), Dartmouth (VIC), Eskdale (VIC), Koetong (VIC), Talgarno (VIC), Tallangatta (VIC), Tallangatta Valley (VIC), Walwa (VIC), Yackandandah (VIC).
Time zones across these areas: Australian Eastern Time with daylight saving: 506 areas; Lord Howe Time with daylight saving (Lord Howe): 1 area.
The carriers behind 02 numbers
The largest block holder is — as in most of the country — the incumbent Telstra with 45.2% of allocated numbers; alongside it, 37 other carriers hold their own blocks, from the NBN-era challengers to VoIP providers.
| Carrier | Blocks | Numbers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| TELSTRA LIMITED | 2,533 | 19.2m | 45.2% |
| OPTUS NETWORKS PTY LIMITED | 1,296 | 5.3m | 12.5% |
| SYMBIO NETWORKS PTY LTD | 4,114 | 4.1m | 9.7% |
| SOUL PATTINSON TELECOMMUNICATIONS PTY LIMITED | 1,258 | 2.6m | 6.1% |
| PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS PTY LIMITED | 1,583 | 2.1m | 5% |
| PIPE NETWORKS PTY LIMITED | 828 | 1.6m | 3.8% |
| OPTUS MOBILE PTY LIMITED | 624 | 1.5m | 3.5% |
| NETSIP PTY LTD | 1,251 | 857,000 | 2% |
| CHIME COMMUNICATIONS PTY LTD | 618 | 817,000 | 1.9% |
| PIPE INTERNATIONAL (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD | 75 | 576,000 | 1.4% |
| TPG TELECOM LIMITED | 56 | 519,000 | 1.2% |
| VIRTUTEL PTY LTD | 591 | 299,500 | 0.7% |
Showing the 12 largest of 38 carriers with allocations under this area code, by allocated numbers.
How the 02 area code is carved up
The register splits 02 into 576 numbering areas with a median of 29 blocks each; the smallest is Barrinford (Ext) with 22, the largest Sydney with 784. Every numbering area under 02 has at least two carriers holding blocks. Allocations run from 30 June 1991 to 1 October 2026, with the busiest five-year stretch 2020–2024 (3,791 blocks); 4,581 of the 20,549 blocks have changed hands since they were first issued. 1,051blocks are not in "Allocated" state — surveyed capacity that isn't live.
Across the 40 busiest areas the lead holder is Telstra in 18, Symbio Networks in 17 and Optus Networks in 5; the areas where Telstra is not the largest holder are Newcastle (Symbio Networks), Gosford (Symbio Networks), Wollongong (Optus Networks), Penrith (Symbio Networks), Campbelltown (Symbio Networks), Orange (Optus Networks), Bathurst (Optus Networks), Wyong (Optus Networks).
| Numbering area | Blocks | Carriers | Allocated numbers | Lead holder | First block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 784 | 32 | 13.3m | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Canberra | 196 | 24 | 2.1m | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Parramatta | 151 | 24 | 1.4m | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Newcastle | 144 | 22 | 1m | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Blacktown | 117 | 22 | 1m | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Gosford | 113 | 20 | 640,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Wollongong | 112 | 23 | 657,000 | Optus Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Liverpool | 103 | 22 | 839,100 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Bankstown | 91 | 22 | 807,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Penrith | 90 | 23 | 451,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Wagga Wagga | 83 | 19 | 233,900 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Sutherland | 77 | 23 | 579,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Albury | 75 | 19 | 309,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Terrey Hills | 73 | 22 | 542,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Campbelltown | 72 | 22 | 359,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Dubbo | 69 | 19 | 152,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Orange | 67 | 20 | 159,100 | Optus Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Tamworth | 67 | 19 | 163,900 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Coffs Harbour | 66 | 19 | 211,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Bathurst | 63 | 19 | 137,000 | Optus Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Wyong | 62 | 21 | 273,000 | Optus Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Armidale | 61 | 19 | 104,200 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Maitland (NSW) | 61 | 19 | 182,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Port Macquarie | 61 | 20 | 198,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Goulburn | 58 | 22 | 151,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Taree | 57 | 20 | 116,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Nowra | 56 | 20 | 182,000 | Optus Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Lismore (NSW) | 54 | 19 | 161,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Windsor (NSW) | 51 | 21 | 258,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Avalon Beach | 48 | 22 | 206,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Forster | 47 | 20 | 81,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Griffith | 47 | 18 | 86,900 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Bowral | 46 | 20 | 143,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Engadine | 46 | 22 | 162,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Grafton | 46 | 19 | 109,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Dural | 45 | 22 | 226,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Nelson Bay | 45 | 20 | 106,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Mudgee | 43 | 19 | 49,100 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
| Ballina | 42 | 19 | 92,000 | Telstra | 30/06/1991 |
| Cessnock | 42 | 19 | 83,000 | Symbio Networks | 30/06/1991 |
The 40 busiest of 576 numbering areas under 02 — browse them all.
What people check and report about 02 numbers
From searches typed into this site's lookup form since 3 September 2026, and the verdicts and moderated reports visitors left. A check usually follows a missed call.
By day of the week
Busiest: Wednesday (22% of checks)
By hour (Sydney time)
Busiest: 3pm–4pm
Verdicts and reports on 02 numbers: 54 verdicts, 18 reports
Scam 61% (33) · Nuisance 35% (19) · Safe 4% (2)
Report types: Scam attempt (10), One ring, no answer (3), Advertising / telemarketing (2), Legitimate business (1).
Latest comments
Most-reported and most-checked 02 numbers
| Number | Verdicts | Reports | People checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 7248 7806 | 1 scam | 1 | 4 |
| 02 7229 6744 | 1 nuisance | 1 | 3 |
| 02 7249 6891 | 1 nuisance | 1 | 2 |
| 02 8531 4558 | 1 scam | 1 | 2 |
| 02 9129 8078 | 1 scam | 1 | 2 |
| 02 4062 8444 | 1 safe | 1 | 1 |
| 02 6038 0598 | 1 scam | 1 | 1 |
| 02 6621 9281 | 1 nuisance | 1 | 1 |
Had a call from a 02 number?
Most verdicts and reports on these numbers describe scam calls, so treat an unexpected call as a possible scam.
- Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they're your bank, the ATO, Services Australia, a courier or your telco, hang up and ring the organisation on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
- Report the call to Scamwatch
The National Anti-Scam Centre uses Scamwatch reports to warn others and to get scam numbers blocked. Note the number, the time and what the caller claimed to be. If anyone is in danger, call 000.
- If you lost money or shared details
Call your bank straight away on the number on your card and ask it to stop the payment. Then report it through ReportCyber, which passes cybercrime reports to your state or territory police. If your identity documents or passwords were shared, IDCARE's free support service can help you lock things down.
Nationally, Scamwatch recorded $72.5 million lost to scams that started with a phone call in 2025 (down from $107.2 million), with a median loss of $3,800 per report that lost money, and phone-call scam reports are 73.7% below their 2021 level. Telcos blocked 109.3 million scam calls and 45.2 million scam texts in January to March 2026. Sources: Targeting scams 2025 (National Anti-Scam Centre); ACMA quarterly report, Jan–Mar 2026.
Area code 02: questions and answers
Where is area code 02 used?
02 is the area code for NSW & ACT. Of the 507 numbering areas under 02 this site can place, 492 are in New South Wales, 13 are in Victoria, 2 are in the Australian Capital Territory. The ones in other states are border exchanges such as Barnawartha, Bendoc and Bonang.
How many numbers and carriers does 02 have?
The ACMA register lists 20,549 blocks under 02 with about 42.4m allocated numbers, held by 38 carriers across 576 numbering areas.
Which carrier holds the most 02 numbers?
Telstra, with 45.2% of allocated numbers, ahead of Optus Networks with 12.5%. The register shows the carrier a block was issued to; a number can since have been ported.
What time zone is a 02 number in?
It depends on the exchange: 506 areas are on Australian Eastern Time (UTC+10, AEDT, UTC+11 in summer); 1 area is on Lord Howe Time (UTC+10:30, UTC+11 in summer).
How old are 02 numbers?
The oldest block under 02 in the register is dated 30 June 1991 and the newest 1 October 2026; 4,581 of the 20,549 blocks have changed hands since they were issued.
How often do people check 02 numbers?
Visitors have checked 1,478 different 02 numbers 1,858 times on this site since 3 September 2026, and left 54 verdicts (33 scam, 19 nuisance, 2 safe) and 18 moderated reports.
Check a 02 number
Range data is not personal data and the number on your screen can be spoofed. Scam calls: Scamwatch. Guides: Who called me from this number?, Which carrier owns which mobile prefix?
“Scam number it’s call and ask you about money transfer”
Scam attempt · 02 8004 9655 · 13 Oct 2026
“They called & when I answered they hung up”
Scam attempt · 02 8271 2291 · 13 Oct 2026
“One ring no answer number just disconnects”
One ring, no answer · 02 7265 0910 · 12 Oct 2026