What Is an 0818 Number?link to this section
An 0818 number is an Irish Non-Geographic Number (NGN) used by enterprises, government bodies, contact centers, and growing businesses to create a single, countrywide contact point.
Unlike geographic prefixes (such as 01 for Dublin, 021 for Cork, or 091 for Galway), 0818 numbers are location-independent. Incoming calls can be routed to any office, remote agent, or contact center queue globally.
How ComReg Regulations Impact 0818 Numberslink to this section
The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) simplified the Irish non-geographic numbering framework down to just two principal ranges:
- 1800 Freephone: Completely free of charge for the caller.
- 0818 Standard Rate: Charged at standard geographic landline rates.
Legacy prefixes (1850 CallSave, 1890 Lo-Call, and 076 VoIP) were phased out to eliminate billing confusion. Under current rules:
- Included in Bundles: Calls to 0818 numbers must be treated the same as standard landline calls by Irish telecom operators. If a caller has inclusive minutes on their mobile or landline contract, calling an 0818 number uses those minutes with no extra charge.
- Out-of-Bundle Pricing: If inclusive minutes are depleted, calls are billed at standard national landline per-minute rates.
Key Benefits for 8x8 Customerslink to this section
Deploying an 0818 number on the 8x8 eXperience Communications Platform offers several key business advantages:
- Nationwide Brand Reach: Remove regional bias and project an established, enterprise-level presence throughout Ireland.
- Caller-Friendly Pricing: Lower the barrier to inbound communication by ensuring customers avoid premium rate surcharges.
- Intelligent Cloud Routing: Direct inbound 0818 calls seamlessly to 8x8 Auto Attendants, ring groups, mobile apps, or contact center queues based on skill, schedule, or geographic origin.
- Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Re-route your national line instantly via the 8x8 Admin Console in the event of an outage or office closure.
- Centralized Analytics: Track call volume, queue times, and customer journeys across all regions in real time through 8x8 Analytics.
0818 Numbers vs. 1800 Freephonelink to this section
| Feature | 0818 National Numbers | 1800 Freephone Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to Caller | Standard landline rate (included in call packages) | Free from landlines and mobiles |
| Cost to Business | Standard monthly rental & inbound plan | Business covers inbound call toll costs |
| Best For | General customer support, corporate lines, inquiries | Inbound sales, hotlines, critical support |
| International Access | Dialable internationally with +353 prefix | Typically restricted to domestic callers |
How to Call an 0818 Number from Outside Irelandlink to this section
Callers outside Ireland can reach an 0818 number by dialing the international exit code, the Republic of Ireland country code (+353), and dropping the leading zero:
+353 818 XXX XXX
(Note: International callers will be billed standard international calling rates by their local provider).
