UK area code
01496 area code — Port Ellen
01496 is Ofcom’s Port Ellen numbering area, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. 79 phone companies hold its 90 allocated number blocks. Its numbers are written like 01496 234 567. The nearest other codes are 01586 Campbeltown (43 km) and 01583 Carradale (44 km).
01496 at a glance
- Ofcom area name
- Port Ellen
- Council area
- Argyll and Bute
- Country
- Scotland
- Number format
- 01496 234 567 (4+6)
- Local calls
- Full number recommended
- Current code since
- 1995 (previously 0496)
- Allocated blocks
- 90 of 451 (20%) across 79 providers
- Newest block
- 26 January 2026 (1 in the last 12 months)
Sources: Ofcom numbering data (weekly) and area-code list, Ofcom Numbering Plan, ONS geography.
If a 01496 number called you
No clear pattern in reports for these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- 1
Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they're your bank, HMRC, a courier or a council, 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.
- 2
Forward it to 7726
On a mobile, copy the caller's number from your recent calls and text it to 7726 (it spells SPAM). Scam texts can be forwarded to 7726 as they are. It's free, and your network uses the reports to investigate and block numbers.
- 3
Stop sales calls
Register your landline and mobile free with the Telephone Preference Service (0345 070 0707). Legitimate UK marketers must check it; calls should drop within 28 days. It won't stop scammers.
- 4
If you lost money or shared details
Call your bank on the number on your card (or 159 to reach most UK banks safely), then report it to Police Scotland on 101. In Scotland fraud goes to Police Scotland rather than Report Fraud.
01496 history and number format
Number format: Numbers on 01496 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01496 234 567.
Before 1995: 01496 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0496.
Local dialling: Traditionally not from another 01496 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01496 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
Allocation record: the oldest number block still visible on 01496 was allocated on 15 July 1994, and the most recent on 26 January 2026. 1 block was allocated in the last 12 months — newly-activated ranges with no call history, which is worth knowing when an unfamiliar 01496 number rings (see the weekly numbering changelog for every new allocation.)
Phone companies holding 01496 numbers
Every Ofcom range holder with blocks on 01496, by allocated blocks. The holder is the company Ofcom allocated the block to; a number can since have been ported to another provider (see range holder vs current provider).
| Range holder | Allocated | All blocks | First block | Latest block |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT | 6 | 6 | 15 July 1994 | 15 July 2005 |
| Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) | 3 | 3 | 30 November 2009 | 30 November 2009 |
| Digital Space Group Limited | 2 | 2 | 1 May 2008 | 15 March 2016 |
| Fuse 2 Communications Ltd | 2 | 2 | 4 July 2017 | 22 January 2024 |
| IOVOX Limited | 2 | 2 | 3 July 2012 | 23 October 2014 |
| TalkTalk Communications Limited | 2 | 2 | 19 January 2012 | 19 January 2012 |
| (AQ) LIMITED | 1 | 1 | 19 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd | 1 | 1 | 21 January 2020 | 21 January 2020 |
| 8x8 Communications UK Limited | 1 | 1 | 30 March 2012 | 30 March 2012 |
| AQL Wholesale Ltd | 1 | 1 | 23 June 2006 | 23 June 2006 |
| Adepteo Limited | 1 | 1 | 17 January 2017 | 17 January 2017 |
| Alnitak GmbH | 1 | 1 | 6 January 2017 | 6 January 2017 |
| Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd | 1 | 1 | 11 March 2009 | 11 March 2009 |
| Atomstream Limited | 1 | 1 | 12 May 2010 | 12 May 2010 |
| Barritel Limited | 1 | 1 | 22 November 2006 | 22 November 2006 |
| Belgacom International Carrier Services SA | 1 | 1 | 17 November 2020 | 17 November 2020 |
| Bicom Systems EURL | 1 | 1 | 5 March 2012 | 5 March 2012 |
| Bink Networks Ltd | 1 | 1 | 11 April 2023 | 11 April 2023 |
| CFL Communications Ltd | 1 | 1 | 13 July 2009 | 13 July 2009 |
| Colt Technology Services | 1 | 1 | 4 July 2016 | 4 July 2016 |
| Content Guru Limited | 1 | 1 | 12 October 2012 | 12 October 2012 |
| DRD Communications Limited | 1 | 1 | 5 October 2023 | 5 October 2023 |
| Dial 9 Communications Limited | 1 | 1 | 10 December 2019 | 10 December 2019 |
| Digitech Solutions Global Limited | 1 | 1 | 28 April 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| EVE CONNECT LTD | 1 | 1 | 13 May 2022 | 13 May 2022 |
| Entanet International Ltd | 1 | 1 | 20 December 2007 | 20 December 2007 |
| Flextel Limited | 1 | 1 | 21 October 2005 | 21 October 2005 |
| GCI Network Solutions Limited | 1 | 1 | 20 December 2023 | 20 December 2023 |
| Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited | 1 | 1 | 9 May 2005 | 9 May 2005 |
| Hello Telecom (UK) Limited | 1 | 1 | 20 July 2012 | 20 July 2012 |
Showing the 30 largest of 79 holders.
All number blocks on 01496first 200 of 451, by prefix
| Prefix | Status | Range holder |
|---|---|---|
| +44 149600 | Protected | — |
| +44 149601 | Protected | — |
| +44 149602 | Protected | — |
| +44 149603 | Protected | — |
| +44 149604 | Protected | — |
| +44 149605 | Protected | — |
| +44 149606 | Protected | — |
| +44 149607 | Protected | — |
| +44 149608 | Protected | — |
| +44 149609 | Protected | — |
| +44 149610 | Protected | — |
| +44 149611 | Protected | — |
| +44 149612 | Protected | — |
| +44 149613 | Protected | — |
| +44 149614 | Protected | — |
| +44 149615 | Protected | — |
| +44 149616 | Protected | — |
| +44 149617 | Protected | — |
| +44 149618 | Protected | — |
| +44 149619 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496200 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496201 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496202 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496203 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496204 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496205 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496206 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496207 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496208 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496209 | Protected | — |
| +44 149621 | Allocated | TelNG Limited |
| +44 149622 | Allocated | Barritel Limited |
| +44 1496230 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496231 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496232 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496233 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496234 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496235 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496236 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496237 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496238 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 1496239 | Allocated | TalkTalk Communications Limited |
| +44 149624 | Protected | — |
| +44 149625 | Allocated | Voiceflex Limited |
| +44 149626 | Allocated | Localphone Limited |
| +44 149627 | Allocated | (AQ) LIMITED |
| +44 149628 | Allocated | Redcentric Solutions Limited |
| +44 149629 | Allocated | Nationwide Telephone Assistance Ltd |
| +44 149630 | Allocated | BT |
| +44 149631 | Allocated | VoIP-Un Limited |
| +44 149632 | Allocated | Entanet International Ltd |
| +44 149633 | Allocated | Net-Work Internet Ltd |
| +44 1496340 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496341 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496342 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496343 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496344 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496345 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496346 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496347 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 1496348 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496349 | Protected | — |
| +44 149635 | Allocated | Digital Space Group Limited |
| +44 149636 | Allocated | Telecom2 Limited |
| +44 149637 | Allocated | Nodemax Limited |
| +44 1496380 | Allocated | Voxbone SA |
| +44 1496381 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496382 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496383 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496384 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496385 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496386 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496387 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496388 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496389 | Protected | — |
| +44 149639 | Protected | — |
| +44 149640 | Protected | — |
| +44 149641 | Allocated | Solutios Limited |
| +44 149642 | Quarantined | — |
| +44 149643 | Allocated | Nexus Telecommunications Limited |
| +44 149644 | Allocated | Mars Communications Limited |
| +44 149645 | Allocated | Andrews & Arnold (Numbers) Ltd |
| +44 149646 | Quarantined | — |
| +44 149647 | Allocated | CFL Communications Ltd |
| +44 149648 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496490 | Allocated | Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) |
| +44 1496491 | Allocated | Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) |
| +44 1496492 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496493 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496494 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496495 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496496 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496497 | Allocated | Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) |
| +44 1496498 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496499 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496500 | Allocated | Digitech Solutions Global Limited |
| +44 1496501 | Allocated | YayYay Limited |
| +44 1496502 | Allocated | Atomstream Limited |
| +44 1496503 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496504 | Allocated | GCI Network Solutions Limited |
| +44 1496505 | Allocated | Suretec Systems Ltd |
| +44 1496506 | Allocated | Windsor Telecom Limited |
| +44 1496507 | Allocated | Telephone Box Limited |
| +44 1496508 | Allocated | VoiceHost Limited |
| +44 1496509 | Allocated | Phone Co-Op Numbering Limited |
| +44 1496510 | Allocated | Invosys Limited |
| +44 1496511 | Allocated | INTELLIGENT EXCHANGES LIMITED |
| +44 1496512 | Allocated | Nexbridge Communications Limited |
| +44 1496513 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496514 | Allocated | M247 Ltd |
| +44 1496515 | Allocated | Orbtalk Limited |
| +44 1496516 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496517 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496518 | Allocated | Internexus Networks Limited |
| +44 1496519 | Allocated | Invoco Ltd |
| +44 1496520 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496521 | Allocated | Bicom Systems EURL |
| +44 1496522 | Allocated | 8x8 Communications UK Limited |
| +44 1496523 | Allocated | ICC Networks Ltd |
| +44 1496524 | Allocated | Hello Telecom (UK) Limited |
| +44 1496525 | Allocated | Ziron Limited |
| +44 1496526 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496527 | Allocated | Content Guru Limited |
| +44 1496528 | Allocated | IOVOX Limited |
| +44 1496529 | Allocated | Nuso Cloud UK Limited |
| +44 1496530 | Allocated | Minotaur Telecom Limited |
| +44 1496531 | Allocated | IOVOX Limited |
| +44 1496532 | Allocated | Kalnet4U Ltd |
| +44 1496533 | Allocated | Simwood eSMS Limited |
| +44 1496534 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496535 | Allocated | Fuse 2 Communications Ltd |
| +44 1496536 | Allocated | Redwood Technologies Ltd |
| +44 1496537 | Allocated | Alnitak GmbH |
| +44 1496538 | Allocated | Adepteo Limited |
| +44 1496539 | Allocated | XoverX Ltd |
| +44 1496540 | Allocated | I.T Communications Limited |
| +44 1496541 | Allocated | Number Services Ltd. |
| +44 1496542 | Allocated | Zapappi Ltd |
| +44 1496543 | Allocated | Sky UK Limited |
| +44 1496544 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496545 | Allocated | Colt Technology Services |
| +44 1496546 | Allocated | Fuse 2 Communications Ltd |
| +44 1496547 | Allocated | EVE CONNECT LTD |
| +44 1496548 | Allocated | 24 Seven Cloud Communications Ltd |
| +44 1496549 | Allocated | IP Voice Networks Ltd |
| +44 1496550 | Allocated | Vodafone Ltd (C&W) |
| +44 1496551 | Free | — |
| +44 1496552 | Free | — |
| +44 1496553 | Free | — |
| +44 1496554 | Free | — |
| +44 1496555 | Allocated | ICUK Computing Services Limited |
| +44 1496556 | Allocated | KCOM Group Ltd |
| +44 1496557 | Free | — |
| +44 1496558 | Free | — |
| +44 1496559 | Free | — |
| +44 1496560 | Allocated | Dial 9 Communications Limited |
| +44 1496561 | Free | — |
| +44 1496562 | Free | — |
| +44 1496563 | Free | — |
| +44 1496564 | Free | — |
| +44 1496565 | Free | — |
| +44 1496566 | Allocated | Bink Networks Ltd |
| +44 1496567 | Free | — |
| +44 1496568 | Free | — |
| +44 1496569 | Free | — |
| +44 1496570 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496571 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496572 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496573 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496574 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496575 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496576 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496577 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496578 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496579 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496580 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496581 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496582 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496583 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496584 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496585 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496586 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496587 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496588 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496589 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496590 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496591 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496592 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496593 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496594 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496595 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496596 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496597 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496598 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496599 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496600 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496601 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496602 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496603 | Protected | — |
| +44 1496604 | Protected | — |
Related lookups
- 01586 Campbeltown43 km away
- 01583 Carradale44 km away
- 01951 Colonsay49 km away
- 01880 Tarbert55 km away
- BT6 allocated blocks on 01496
- Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone)3 allocated blocks on 01496
- Digital Space Group Limited2 allocated blocks on 01496
- All UK towns A–ZDialling codes by town
- More Scotland codesSame region
- All UK area codesBrowse every 01/02 dialling code
- Lookup any UK numberFree reverse phone lookup
- UK area codes explainedCornerstone guide
- 020 London numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- 0330 numbers explainedCornerstone guide
- How Ofcom allocates UK phone numbersCornerstone guide
FAQs about 01496
Where is area code 01496?
01496 is Ofcom's Port Ellen numbering area, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Its exchange town is in Argyll and Bute. From abroad, drop the 0 and dial +44 1496.
Do I need to dial 01496 for a local call?
Traditionally not from another 01496 landline, but it now depends on your provider: Ofcom stopped requiring providers to offer local (code-free) dialling on 11 March 2022. Dialling 01496 first always works, and mobiles always need it.
How are 01496 numbers written?
Numbers on 01496 use Ofcom's 4+6 format: the 5-digit code (including the leading 0) followed by a 6-digit local number — written like 01496 234 567. From abroad the leading zero is dropped: +44 1496 then the local number.
What was the 01496 area code before?
01496 took its current form at PhONEday on 16 April 1995, when a "1" was inserted into every UK geographic code — before that the area dialled 0496. Old signage or stationery showing 0496 refers to the same Port Ellen numbers.
Which phone companies hold 01496 numbers?
Ofcom lists 79 providers with allocated blocks on 01496. The largest are BT with 6 of the 90 allocated blocks, Inet Telecoms Ltd (Voipfone) with 3 of the 90 allocated blocks and Digital Space Group Limited with 2 of the 90 allocated blocks. Numbers can be ported, so a number's current provider may differ from the block's holder.
Which area codes are next to 01496?
By distance between exchange towns, the nearest other codes are 01586 Campbeltown (43 km), 01583 Carradale (44 km), 01951 Colonsay (49 km) and 01880 Tarbert (55 km).
How do I report a scam call from a 01496 number?
On a mobile, text the caller's number to 7726 (free). If you lost money or shared details, call your bank and report it to Police Scotland on 101. Unwanted sales calls go to the ICO after registering with the Telephone Preference Service.