The Northern Ireland / Ballycastle / Martinstown area code
028
Who called you from 028?
A call from an 028 number is a call from a number registered to the Northern Ireland / Ballycastle / Martinstown 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 Northern Ireland / Ballycastle / Martinstown area code: what the register shows
028 is the dialling code for Northern Ireland / Ballycastle / Martinstown. Ofcom's allocation register lists 3302 number blocks in this code, issued to 137 different phone companies. BT holds the most, with 349 of the 3302 allocated blocks. Recorded allocations run from 26 May 1999 to 19 October 2026. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Code history: 01232 and others → 028
Northern Ireland's separate codes, including Belfast's 01232, were merged into the single 028 code at the Big Number Change in April 2000, with 8-digit local numbers. An old Belfast 01232 number becomes 028 90.
- Allocated blocks
- 3,302
- Operators
- 137
- Free or protected
- 13,191
- Share allocated
- 20%
Which companies hold 028 numbers
Ofcom allocates numbers to phone companies in blocks. These are the operators holding the most 028 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 | 349 | 11% |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 321 | 10% |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 73 | 2% |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 69 | 2% |
| Vodafone Ltd (C&W) | 68 | 2% |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 67 | 2% |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 58 | 2% |
| Virgin Media Limited | 53 | 2% |
| Colt Technology Services | 43 | 1% |
| Sky UK Limited | 40 | 1% |
| Barritel Limited | 38 | 1% |
| Voiceflex Limited | 37 | 1% |
Plus 125 further operators with smaller holdings.
What it costs to call 028
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 028
Where is the 028 area code?
028 is the UK dialling code for Northern Ireland / Ballycastle / Martinstown. Numbers starting 028 are geographic landline numbers registered to that area.
Who called me from an 028 number?
The number belongs to one of 137 phone companies holding 028 number blocks, with BT holding the most. The operator table on this page shows who issues 028 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 028 numbers?
Standard landline rate. Full details in the cost section above.
Is a call from 028 a scam?
The code alone can't tell you. Most calls from 028 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 028?
Northern Ireland's separate codes, including Belfast's 01232, were merged into the single 028 code at the Big Number Change in April 2000, with 8-digit local numbers. An old Belfast 01232 number becomes 028 90.
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.
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.