The Portsmouth / Southampton area code
023
Who called you from 023?
A call from an 023 number is a call from a number registered to the Portsmouth / Southampton area. That could be a local business, a GP surgery, a school, or a call centre that bought local numbers to look local. Ofcom's allocation data tells you which phone company issued the number, and that's the most anyone can tell you from the number alone.
Was it a scam?
The code alone can't tell you, and anyone who says otherwise is guessing. What settles it is the call itself: a genuine organisation survives you hanging up and ringing back on the number from its website or your paperwork. If the caller wanted money, bank details, one-time codes or remote access to your computer, treat it as hostile.
What to do now
- Missed call, no voicemail? Don't ring back numbers you don't recognise. Anything important comes back properly.
- Suspicious call: forward the number and what was said to 7726, free on every UK network.
- Lost money or gave away details: Action Fraud, 0300 123 2040 (Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland), and your bank on the number on your card.
- If a caller claims to be from a government department, ring the department back on its official number, which ContactNumbers lists with the source.
- Full walkthrough in the report a call guide.
The Portsmouth / Southampton area code: what the register shows
023 is the dialling code for Portsmouth / Southampton. Ofcom's allocation register lists 455 number blocks in this code, issued to 139 different phone companies. BT holds the most, with 114 of the 455 allocated blocks. Recorded allocations run from 26 May 1999 to 17 March 2026. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Code history: 01703 / 01705 → 023
Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) merged into the shared 023 code at the Big Number Change in April 2000, with 8-digit local numbers starting 80 and 92 respectively. An old 01703 number becomes 023 80; an old 01705 number becomes 023 92.
- Allocated blocks
- 455
- Operators
- 139
- Free or protected
- 2,140
- Share allocated
- 17%
Which companies hold 023 numbers
Ofcom allocates numbers to phone companies in blocks. These are the operators holding the most 023 blocks. The company that was issued a number often supplies it onward to a business or reseller, and UK numbers can be ported between networks, so read this as where the number started, and a strong hint rather than proof of who serves it today.
| Operator | Blocks held | Share of allocated |
|---|---|---|
| BT | 114 | 25% |
| Virgin Media Limited | 29 | 6% |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 19 | 4% |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 17 | 4% |
| Sky UK Limited | 9 | 2% |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 7 | 2% |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 6 | 1% |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 6 | 1% |
| IOVOX Limited | 6 | 1% |
| Colt Technology Services | 4 | 1% |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 4 | 1% |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 3 | 1% |
Plus 127 further operators with smaller holdings.
What it costs to call 023
Standard landline rate
Calls to this code cost the same as any UK landline call. On most landline and mobile plans they come out of your inclusive minutes, so a call usually costs you nothing extra.
Inclusive minutes: Yes, on almost every UK plan. See the full UK call charges guide.
Questions people ask about 023
Where is the 023 area code?
023 is the UK dialling code for Portsmouth / Southampton. Numbers starting 023 are geographic landline numbers registered to that area.
Who called me from an 023 number?
The number belongs to one of 139 phone companies holding 023 number blocks, with BT holding the most. The operator table on this page shows who issues 023 numbers. The caller could be anyone using a number from that range, and caller ID can be spoofed, so an unexpected call asking for personal details deserves suspicion wherever it appears to come from.
How much does it cost to call 023 numbers?
Standard landline rate. Full details in the cost section above.
Is a call from 023 a scam?
The code alone can't tell you. Most calls from 023 numbers are legitimate, but scammers can dial from, or pretend to dial from, any range. Never hand over passwords, PINs or remote computer access to an inbound caller. If in doubt, hang up and call the organisation back on the number printed on its website or your paperwork.
What was the old code for 023?
Southampton (01703) and Portsmouth (01705) merged into the shared 023 code at the Big Number Change in April 2000, with 8-digit local numbers starting 80 and 92 respectively. An old 01703 number becomes 023 80; an old 01705 number becomes 023 92.
How do I report a nuisance or scam call?
Forward scam call details to 7726 (free, all UK networks), report fraud to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and report persistent nuisance calls to the ICO. Our report a call guide walks through each route.
Related codes
Source: Ofcom telephone numbering allocation data, retrieved 2026-10-22 and reproduced with acknowledgement under Ofcom's re-use terms. Figures describe number blocks, and a block being allocated to an operator says nothing about any individual caller. Last verified by a human on 2026-10-22.