The +246 country code is for Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Diego Garcia is not a country in the normal sense -- it's a remote coral atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles south of India. Since 1971, it has been home to a joint US-UK military base called Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia. The indigenous Chagossian population was forcibly removed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to make way for the base. There are no permanent civilian residents. The only people on the island are military personnel, US and UK government contractors, and Filipino and Mauritian contract workers. Population at any given time is roughly 3,000-5,000 people.
Quick answer: The country code +246 is for Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory). Phone numbers are 7 digits after +246, following the format
+246 370 XXXXfor the base's main exchange. There is no trunk prefix and no public mobile network. Calling Diego Garcia from outside requires Premium routing at $4.40/min -- there is no Economy option.
How to call Diego Garcia: quick reference
Diego Garcia has no trunk prefix. All calls route through the military base's telephone exchange. Public access to calling the island is limited -- most numbers are internal military lines that don't accept inbound civilian calls.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +246 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-246-[local number] |
| UK | 00-246-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-246-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-246-[local number] |
| France | 00-246-[local number] |
Understanding Diego Garcia phone numbers
Diego Garcia's phone system is unlike any other country's. It's a closed military installation, so the numbering plan is minimal.
Number format
Numbers are 7 digits after the +246 country code. The main prefix is 370, followed by 4 digits:
+246 370 XXXX
There is also a 380 prefix used for some lines. The numbering plan has changed over the years as the base's infrastructure has been upgraded.
No mobile network
There is no public mobile network on Diego Garcia. No GSM, no LTE, no cell towers for civilian use. Personnel on the base use the military's internal communication systems, satellite phones, or the base's DSN (Defense Switched Network) lines. Some facilities have Wi-Fi, which means VoIP apps can work in limited areas.
Landline only
All +246 numbers are effectively landlines connected to the base's telephone exchange. The system is operated by the US military (Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station). Calling in from outside is possible but expensive, and many extensions don't accept external calls.
Telecom on Diego Garcia
There are no mobile carriers on Diego Garcia. No commercial telecom companies operate there. The entire phone system is run by the US military.
Military phone system (DSN)
The Defense Switched Network handles most voice traffic on the base. DSN numbers use a separate numbering plan from the +246 code and are not dialable from civilian phones. Military personnel can call home using DSN lines routed through US military exchanges, which is cheaper than calling the +246 number from outside.
Satellite communications
The base has satellite communication links for both military and limited morale/welfare purposes. Personnel can sometimes access satellite phones or internet-connected terminals to call home. The USO (United Service Organizations) and MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) facilities provide phone and internet access for base residents.
Internet and VoIP
Internet access on Diego Garcia is limited and controlled. Some areas of the base have Wi-Fi. Personnel who can get online use WhatsApp, FaceTime, or other VoIP apps to call home -- this is the most common way people on Diego Garcia stay in touch with family. Bandwidth can be slow since everything goes through satellite.
Don't confuse +246 with nearby codes
+246 is easily confused with several Caribbean codes:
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +1-246 | Barbados | This is the big one. Barbados uses +1-246 as its area code within the North American Numbering Plan. If you dial +246 thinking you're calling Barbados, you'll reach Diego Garcia's military base instead. Always include the +1 for Barbados. |
| +248 | Seychelles | Off by two digits. Both are in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles is a civilian island nation about 1,000 miles to the west. |
| +960 | Maldives | Another Indian Ocean island group, about 700 miles north of Diego Garcia. No numerical similarity, but people sometimes mix up the geography. |
The Barbados confusion is the one that actually happens in practice. If you're trying to call someone in Barbados and dial +246 instead of +1-246, you'll get a very different destination.
Time zone considerations
Diego Garcia uses Indian Ocean Time (IOT), which is UTC+6. No daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 10:00 AM on Diego Garcia |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | IOT is +11 hours | 11:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | IOT is +14 hours | 8:00 PM previous day |
| London (GMT) | IOT is +6 hours | 4:00 AM |
| Sydney (AEDT) | IOT is -5 hours | 3:00 PM |
Since most personnel on Diego Garcia are American military, they're often calling the US East Coast. The 11-hour gap means late evening EST (around 9-10 PM) is mid-morning on Diego Garcia -- one of the better windows for reaching someone during their downtime.
Communication in Diego Garcia
Access restrictions
Diego Garcia is a closed military installation. Civilians cannot visit without authorization. There are no commercial flights or ferries. All access is by military transport. This means you can't just call a number on the base and expect someone to pick up -- most extensions are internal only.
How personnel communicate home
Military personnel and contractors on Diego Garcia typically call home using VoIP apps over the base's internet connection (when available), MWR phone centers, or DSN lines routed through the US military phone network. Calling the +246 number from outside is possible but rare -- most families coordinate call times over messaging apps and then connect via WhatsApp or FaceTime.
Network quality
All communications go through satellite. This means latency on voice calls (noticeable delay of 500ms+) and limited bandwidth for data. Video calls can be choppy. The base has invested in improved connectivity over the years, but it's still a remote atoll in the middle of the ocean -- don't expect fiber-optic speeds. Text-based communication (email, messaging) is more reliable than real-time voice or video.
Who calls Diego Garcia?
Military families
The main group calling Diego Garcia is families of US Navy and Air Force personnel stationed on the base. Deployments to Diego Garcia are typically 12-18 months. Family members back in the US want to stay in touch. Most of this communication has shifted to VoIP apps, but some families still use traditional phone calls, especially during base lockdowns or when internet is down.
Contractor families
A large portion of the base's support staff -- food service, maintenance, construction -- are contractors from the Philippines, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka. These workers are on long-term contracts and call home regularly. Filipino workers, who make up the majority of the contractor workforce, typically use messaging apps and VoIP to stay connected with family.
The Chagossian community
The indigenous Chagossians, forcibly removed from Diego Garcia between 1968 and 1973, now live primarily in Mauritius, Seychelles, and the UK (mainly Crawley, West Sussex). While they can't return to the island, the Chagossian diaspora has been fighting for the right of return for decades. Phone calls to Diego Garcia from this community are rare since there's nobody they know left on the island, but the +246 code has deep emotional significance for them.
Dialing examples
Calling the base's main exchange
The number is 370 9000.
- From a US mobile: +246 370 9000
- From a US landline: 011-246-370-9000
- From the UK: 00-246-370-9000
Calling a specific extension
If you've been given an extension like 370 4567:
- From a US mobile: +246 370 4567
- From a US landline: 011-246-370-4567
Note: many extensions are internal-only and won't accept outside calls. If you get silence or a fast busy signal, the extension may not be reachable from the public phone network.
Calling from Diego Garcia to the US
Personnel on the base typically use DSN lines, MWR phone centers, or VoIP apps. If using the +246 system to call out, they dial the international access code + country code + number. But outbound calls from Diego Garcia are more commonly routed through military networks rather than the commercial +246 system.
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing +246 with +1-246 (Barbados)
This is the single biggest mistake. Barbados uses +1-246 (area code 246 within the NANP). Diego Garcia uses +246 (a standalone country code). If you leave off the +1 when calling Barbados, your call may route to a military base in the Indian Ocean. Always dial +1-246 for Barbados.
Expecting someone to answer
Most +246 numbers are internal military extensions. They don't ring for outside callers. If you've been given a number by someone on the base, confirm that it accepts inbound calls from the commercial phone network. Otherwise you'll hear silence or a busy tone.
Trying to call a mobile number
There are no mobile numbers on Diego Garcia. If someone on the base gives you a phone number, it's a landline extension on the base's exchange. If they give you a number starting with +1 or +63, that's their US or Philippine mobile -- not a Diego Garcia number.
Expecting cheap rates
Calls to Diego Garcia cost $4.40/min because all routing goes through satellite. There is no Economy option. If you need to talk for more than a few minutes, arrange a VoIP call instead -- it'll be much cheaper if the person on the base has internet access.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the +246 country code for?
Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. It's a US-UK military base on a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean. There are no permanent civilian residents.
Can I call Diego Garcia from a normal phone?
Technically yes, by dialing +246 followed by the 7-digit number. But most extensions on the base are internal-only and won't accept outside calls. You need a specific number that's been confirmed to accept inbound commercial calls.
Is +246 the same as Barbados?
No. Barbados is +1-246 (area code 246 under the +1 North American code). Diego Garcia is +246 (standalone country code). They are completely different destinations on opposite sides of the world.
Why are calls to Diego Garcia so expensive?
All phone traffic to Diego Garcia routes through satellite because the island has no undersea cable connections. Satellite routing is expensive, which is why the rate is $4.40/min with no cheaper Economy option.
How do people on Diego Garcia call home?
Most personnel use VoIP apps (WhatsApp, FaceTime) over the base's internet connection, military DSN phone lines, or MWR phone centers. Traditional +246 phone calls are rarely the primary way people stay in touch.
For more dialing guides, see the full country code directory. You might also find these related guides useful: Seychelles (+248), Mauritius (+230), and Maldives (+960).