What Is a Destination Prefix? Phone Number Routing

A destination prefix is a specific number range within a country that determines which mobile or landline network your call terminates on — and what it costs. Different prefixes often have different per-minute rates.

How AKITAKI uses it

AKITAKI shows rates broken down by prefix type — you always know exactly what a specific number will cost before you dial. When you type a number into the dial pad, AKITAKI looks up the destination prefix and displays the exact per-minute rate. No surprises. Browse rates by destination prefix →

The difference between a country code and a destination prefix

A country code (calling prefix) routes your call to the right country. A destination prefix routes it to the specific carrier network within that country. For example, +86 138 xxxx xxxx routes to a China Mobile number, while +86 10 xxxx xxxx routes to a Beijing landline. Same country code (+86), but different destination prefixes (138 vs 10) — and likely different per-minute rates. Understanding this distinction is the key to reading an international rate card accurately.

How destination prefixes determine your rate

Mobile termination is typically more expensive than landline termination because mobile operators charge higher fees to connect calls to their network. In many countries, mobile destination prefixes cost 2–3× more per minute than landline prefixes. For example, calling a Bangladesh mobile (+880 1x...) costs more than calling a Bangladesh landline (+880 2x...). Some countries also have premium-rate prefixes (shared-cost services, toll-free numbers) with different rates. AKITAKI blocks calls to known premium-rate prefixes to prevent toll fraud.

Why AKITAKI shows rates by prefix

Most phone carriers give you a single flat rate for "calling China" or "calling India" — hiding the fact that different prefixes within a country cost different amounts. AKITAKI shows per-prefix rates transparently. When you enter a number in the dial pad, the system identifies the destination prefix and displays "This call costs $0.06/min to China mobile" or whatever the actual rate is. You see the cost before the call connects, every time.

Common prefix ranges

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