Whose number starts with 0488?
The 0488 mobile prefix appears in the ACMA register as held mainly by TELSTRA LIMITED (90% of the window's 1m allocated numbers), alongside PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED (10%). The earliest allocation in 0488 is dated 12 December 2006, the most recent 18 August 2009 to PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED.
Source: ACMA register, data as of 16/10/2026
The story of 0488
0488 is a mixed window: Telstra Limited holds arcs allocated from 12 December 2006, while a smaller arc was allocated to My Number Pty Ltd and transferred to Pivotel Satellite Pty Limited on 15 May 2015. Pivotel issues 04 numbers to satellite handsets, so part of 0488 is not a terrestrial mobile range at all.
The 0488 ranges in the ACMA register
The 0488 window is covered by 3 allocations with a combined capacity of about 1m numbers, in the hands of 2 different holders. 1 of the 3 ranges has changed hands since allocation: the register still names MY NUMBER PTY LTD as original allocatee, with the transfer recorded on 15 May 2015.
| Range | Numbers | Original allocatee | Current holder | Allocated | Transferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0488000000–0488799999 | 800,000 | TELSTRA LIMITED | TELSTRA LIMITED | 12/12/2006 | — |
| 0488800000–0488899999 | 100,000 | MY NUMBER PTY LTD | PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED | 18/08/2009 | 15/05/2015 |
| 0488900000–0488999999 | 100,000 | TELSTRA LIMITED | TELSTRA LIMITED | 12/12/2006 | — |
- 0488000000–0488799999 (800,000 numbers) was allocated on 12 December 2006 to TELSTRA LIMITED and has stayed with the original allocatee.
- 0488800000–0488899999 (100,000 numbers) was allocated on 18 August 2009 to MY NUMBER PTY LTD and transferred on 15 May 2015 to PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED.
- 0488900000–0488999999 (100,000 numbers) was allocated on 12 December 2006 to TELSTRA LIMITED and has stayed with the original allocatee.
The 0488 holders nationally
Set against the whole Australian mobile plan, TELSTRA LIMITED holds about 91% of all allocated mobile numbers across 52 prefixes; PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED about 1% across 6 prefixes. Inside 0488 the balance is different: TELSTRA LIMITED has 90% of the window, the rest is split between the other 1.
| Holder | Numbers in 0488 | Share of 0488 | Share of all 04 numbers | Prefixes held |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TELSTRA LIMITED | 900,000 | 90% | 91% | 52 |
| PIVOTEL SATELLITE PTY LIMITED | 100,000 | 10% | 1% | 6 |
The other prefixes in the 0480–0489 decade
Held by Telstra and Optus Mobile: 0480, 0481, 0482, 0483, 0484, 0485, 0486, 0487, 0489. The decade's oldest allocation is in 0489 (7 July 2009, Optus Mobile), its youngest in 0486 (7 April 2020, Telstra). 5 prefixes in the decade are split between several holders: 0480, 0482, 0483, 0485, 0489.
What does a call from a 0488 number mean?
Check the range table: a 0488 number in the Pivotel arc rings a satellite phone and can cost far more than a mobile call to return; the Telstra arcs are ordinary mobiles at ordinary rates.
What people check and report about 0488 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.
Verdicts and reports on 0488 numbers: 1 verdict, 0 reports
1 safe. Too few to show shares yet.
Had a call from a 0488 number?
No clear pattern in reports on these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- 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.
- Register on the Do Not Call Register
Registering landlines and mobiles is free and stops most telemarketing calls within 30 days. Charities, political parties, surveys and scammers aren't covered.
- Forward spam texts to 0429 999 888
The ACMA collects unsolicited commercial texts forwarded to 0429 999 888 (standard message charges apply). Don't edit the message first. Scam texts that impersonate a bank, toll road or delivery company go to Scamwatch instead.
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.
0488 numbers: questions and answers
Which network does a 0488 number belong to?
0488 is split between 2 holders: Telstra (90%), Pivotel Satellite (10%). Mobile numbers can be moved to another network, so the caller may now be with a different provider.
When was 0488 first allocated?
The earliest 0488 range in the register is dated 12 December 2006; the most recent 18 August 2009. The window is covered by 3 register ranges.
How big is Telstra's share of Australian mobile numbers?
Across the whole 04 range, Telstra holds about 91% of allocated mobile numbers, spread over 52 of the 04xx prefixes.
Are calls from 0488 numbers scams?
Visitors have left 1 verdict on 0488 numbers (0 scam, 0 nuisance, 1 safe) and 0 moderated reports, across 39 numbers people looked up. Most 0488 numbers belong to ordinary subscribers.
How do I report a scam call or text from a 0488 number?
Report scam calls and texts to Scamwatch. Forward unsolicited commercial texts to the ACMA on 0429 999 888, and block the number from your phone's recent calls or messages. If you lost money, call your bank first, then report it through ReportCyber.
Check a 0488 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?