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UK Telephone Number Range Holder Checker

Instantly Check Who Provides A Telephone Number

Use our free tool to check who holds the telephone number range for any UK phone number.

The lookup uses official Ofcom allocation data to show which telecoms provider a number block belongs to. Simply enter a UK telephone number below to see the range holder instantly.

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Telephone Number Network Lookup

Enter a full UK number and we’ll return the provider.

What Is A Telephone Number Range Holder?

A telephone number range holder is the telecoms provider that Ofcom has officially allocated a block of phone numbers to.

In the UK, telephone numbers are issued in ranges. Ofcom assigns these ranges to telecoms operators, known as Communications Providers (CPs). That provider becomes the range holder for that block.

Important things to understand

  • The range holder is not always the company the end user deals with
  • Many providers resell or host numbers from another operator’s range
  • A number may be ported, but the original range holder still appears in Ofcom records

This is why checking the range holder is useful when troubleshooting calls, validating numbers, or investigating unknown callers.

What Does This Number Range Holder Checker Show?

This tool tells you

  • Which telecoms provider holds the number range
  • Whether the number is geographic, mobile, or non-geographic
  • Information based on Ofcom’s official numbering database

This does not show

  • The name of the person or business using the number
  • Billing information
  • Call history or activity
The lookup is purely about number ownership at a network level.
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Where Does The Number Data Come From?

All results are based on Ofcom’s publicly available number allocation data. Ofcom is the UK’s communications regulator and is responsible for allocating telephone number ranges to providers across:

We regularly update our data to reflect changes published by Ofcom, ensuring results are accurate and reliable.

Why Would You Want To Check A Number Range Holder?

People use range holder lookups for many reasons, including:

  • Identifying which network an unknown number belongs to
  • Troubleshooting call routing or delivery issues
  • Preparing for number porting
  • Understanding who controls a number block before buying or transferring numbers
For businesses, IT teams, and telecoms professionals, this information is often essential.
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Understanding Range Holders vs Service Providers

A common source of confusion is the difference between a range holder and a service provider.

  • The range holder owns the block of numbers allocated by Ofcom
  • The service provider is the company delivering the service to the customer
For example, a small business may buy a number from a hosted VoIP provider, but that number might sit within a range held by BT, Gamma, TalkTalk, or another carrier. This tool shows the range holder, not necessarily the reseller.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The range holder owns the number block, but the service may be provided by another company that resells or hosts numbers from that range.
Yes. Ofcom can reallocate number ranges, and providers can merge or exit the market. This is why checking current Ofcom data is important.
No. It shows the telecoms provider that holds the number range, not the identity of the caller.

Yes. The lookup supports UK mobile (07), geographic (01 and 02), UK-wide (03), and non-geographic including freephone (08) ranges.

The data is sourced from Ofcom’s official numbering records and updated regularly. It reflects the current registered range holder.