Area code
980
980 is a United States area code. Under the North American Numbering Plan it belongs to North Carolina, which has 10 area codes in total.
Validate a number in 980
Paste a full number and the tool checks it against the numbering plan. It returns the standard formats, the line type the plan assigns and the area code region.
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Area code 980 at a glance
NANPA lists 457 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 980, held by 52 holders across 57 rate centers.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| In service since | 2001-04-01 |
| Time zone | Eastern (E) |
| Assigned overlays | 704 (1947-01-01) |
| Prefixes in use | 457 |
| Pooled prefixes | 450 (98%) |
| Rate centers | 57 |
| Companies holding prefixes | 52 |
| Assignment dates on file | 2001-01-23 to 2026-06-26 (428 prefixes) |
| ZIP codes in its places | 132 |
Rate centers in area code 980
The largest rate center is CHARLOTTE, with 194 prefixes (42%).
| Rate center | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CHARLOTTE | 194 | 42% |
| CONCORD | 25 | 5% |
| GASTONIA | 22 | 5% |
| MONROE | 17 | 4% |
| LINCOLNTON | 12 | 3% |
| SALISBURY | 12 | 3% |
| STATESVL | 10 | 2% |
| MATTHEWS | 8 | 2% |
| 49 other rate centers | 157 | 34% |
Who holds the prefixes in 980
Onvoy holds the most prefixes, 83 (18%). 98% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies.
| Holder | Prefixes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Onvoy | 83 | 18% |
| Verizon Wireless | 61 | 13% |
| T-Mobile USA | 48 | 11% |
| Bandwidth.com CLEC | 38 | 8% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS | 25 | 5% |
| Southern Bell Tel & Tel | 21 | 5% |
| 46 other carriers | 181 | 40% |
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. Find which carrier a number is on, or browse the prefix holders.
History of area code 980
- 1947-01-01 Area code 704, named as the parent of 980 in the NANPA report, was in service.
- 2001-04-01 Area code 980 went into service.
Area codes nearest to 980
Distance is measured between the centers of the ZIP code places each area code serves, so it is a rough guide.
Overlay codes in the same area
ZIP codes in area code 980
132 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code.
| Place | ZIP codes |
|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 74 |
| Gastonia, NC | 5 |
| Salisbury, NC | 4 |
A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems. A ZIP code can sit in more than one area code, and an area code spans many ZIP codes.
Complaints on file for 980 numbers
1,856 FCC complaints are on file for 1,325 numbers in 980, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are unverified consumer reports.
| Year of latest complaint | Numbers |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 62 |
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2025 | 180 |
Other area codes in North Carolina
North Carolina is one state with 10 area codes in the NANPA table. 980 is one of them.
Next to 980 in the numbering table
These are the codes just before and after 980 when all are sorted by number. They are neighbours on the list, not necessarily on the map.
What the area code does and does not tell you
A number that starts with 980 was first assigned in North Carolina. That is a fact about where the number began, and it is a useful hint when you check a form entry, for example a billing address in North Carolina next to a 980 phone number.
It does not show where the person is today. A number stays with its owner after a move or a change of provider (number portability), and mobile numbers travel with the handset. The area code also cannot tell you whether the line is active, who the carrier is, or whether the number is mobile or fixed: the plan shares those ranges. Read more about the area code, the numbering plan and line type.
Check numbers in bulk with the API
| Product | Credits | Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Numbering-Plan Validation | 1 credit per valid number | API docs |
| Phone Intelligence (carrier and line status) | 1 credit per check (invalid numbers outside the US and Canada are free) | Product page |
Questions about area code 980
Where is area code 980?
NANPA assigns area code 980 to North Carolina, United States.
In which state does area code 980 sit?
North Carolina. 980 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state.
Which places does area code 980 cover?
The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 980 are Charlotte, NC, Gastonia, NC and Salisbury, NC. The rate center list on this page shows all of them.
Who owns area code 980?
NANPA assigns area codes. Within 980, Onvoy holds the most prefixes, 83 prefixes or 18%.
Which time zone does 980 use?
The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 980 as Eastern (E).
What year did 980 enter service?
The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2001-04-01, so 980 has been in use since 2001.
Does area code 980 have an overlay?
Yes. 704 (in service 1947-01-01) shares the same area with 980, so numbers from all of them are local to each other.
Which area codes are nearest to 980?
The area codes closest to 980, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 336 (about 72 miles), 743 (about 74 miles), 828 (about 89 miles), 803 (about 91 miles) and 839 (about 91 miles).
How many prefixes does area code 980 have?
NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 457 prefixes in service in 980, spread over 57 rate centers and 52 holders.
Are there complaints about 980 numbers?
The FCC data on file has 1,856 complaints for 1,325 numbers in 980. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe.
Area code assignments: North American Numbering Plan Administrator NPA report, file dated 10/17/2026, retrieved 2026-10-17. Source file. New codes are assigned several times a year. Prefixes, rate centers, holders, time zone, in-service date and overlays: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17 and NPA report dated 2026-10-18. Complaints: FCC consumer complaints open data, fetched 2026-10-17. ZIP code places: Postal code places and coordinates: GeoNames (geonames.org), licensed CC BY 4.0.