---
title: "Area code 228: Mississippi, United States"
url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/228.md"
canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/228"
last_updated: "2026-10-23"
type: "reference"
summary: "Area code 228 serves Mississippi, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Mississippi."
---

# Area code 228: Mississippi, United States

Area code 228 serves Mississippi, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Mississippi.

NANPA lists 274 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 228, held by 40 holders across 12 rate centers.
South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 66 (24%). 72% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
The FCC unwanted-call data has 1,206 complaints on file for 1,065 numbers in 228, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings.

## Facts

- In service since: 1997-09-15
- Time zone: Central (C)
- Prefixes in use: 274
- Pooled prefixes: 197 (72%)
- Rate centers: 12
- Companies holding prefixes: 40
- Assignment dates on file: 2001-02-27 to 2026-07-22 (127 prefixes)
- ZIP codes in its places: 21

## Rate centers

| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BILOXI | 80 | 29% |
| GULFPORT | 67 | 24% |
| PASCAGOULA | 37 | 14% |
| BAYSTLOUIS | 21 | 8% |
| OCEAN SPG | 19 | 7% |
| PASSCHRSTN | 14 | 5% |
| MOSS POINT | 9 | 3% |
| HURLEY | 7 | 3% |
| 4 other rate centers | 20 | 7% |

## Carriers

| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Central Bell Tel | 66 | 24% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 26 | 9% |
| Paetec Itel | 25 | 9% |
| Verizon Wireless | 20 | 7% |
| Onvoy | 16 | 6% |
| Level 3 Communications | 15 | 5% |
| 34 other carriers | 106 | 39% |

A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company.

## History

- 1947-01-01: Area code 601, named as the parent of 228 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 1997-09-15: Area code 228 went into service.

## Nearest area codes

The area codes closest to 228, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 251 (about 64 miles), 504 (about 82 miles), 985 (about 96 miles), 601 (about 122 miles) and 769 (about 124 miles).

## ZIP codes

21 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Biloxi, MS (6 ZIP codes), Gulfport, MS (6 ZIP codes) and Pascagoula, MS (5 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes.

## Complaints on file

1,206 complaints for 1,065 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year:

- 2023: 50
- 2024: 123
- 2025: 191

## Questions

### Where is area code 228?

NANPA assigns area code 228 to Mississippi, United States.

### In which state does area code 228 sit?

Mississippi. 228 is one of 5 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.

### Which places does area code 228 cover?

The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 228 are Biloxi, MS, Gulfport, MS and Pascagoula, MS. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.

### Who owns area code 228?

NANPA assigns area codes. Within 228, South Central Bell Tel holds the most prefixes, 66 prefixes or 24%.

### Which time zone does 228 use?

The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 228 as Central (C).

### What year did 228 enter service?

The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 1997-09-15, so 228 has been in use since 1997.

### Does area code 228 have an overlay?

The NANPA NPA report lists no other area code in an overlay with 228.

### Which area codes are nearest to 228?

The area codes closest to 228, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 251 (about 64 miles), 504 (about 82 miles), 985 (about 96 miles), 601 (about 122 miles) and 769 (about 124 miles).

### How many prefixes does area code 228 have?

NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 274 prefixes in service in 228, spread over 12 rate centers and 40 holders.

### Are there complaints about 228 numbers?

The FCC data on file has 1,206 complaints for 1,065 numbers in 228. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.

Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).