Afghanistan Mobile Number Prefixes: Which Network Is 070, 072, 077 or 079?

The first two digits after +93 tell you which network an Afghan mobile number belongs to. Numbers starting 079 or 072 are Roshan, 070 or 071 are AWCC, 078 or 073 are Etisalat, 077 or 076 are Atoma (formerly MTN), and 074 or 075 are Salaam. Knowing the prefix helps you choose the right top-up, check a number before you send credit, and spot typing mistakes.

Key takeaways

• Afghan mobile numbers have 9 digits after +93, always starting with 7.
• The two digits after +93 (or after the leading 0) identify the network.
• MTN numbers (077, 076) now belong to Atoma, MTN Afghanistan’s new brand.
• You can write the same number three ways: +93 79 123 4567, 0093 79 123 4567 or 079 123 4567.

The full prefix table

You can also see this table, always up to date, on our Afghan operators page.

How Afghan mobile numbers are written

An Afghan mobile number has three parts:

1. The country code: +93. When calling from abroad you dial +93 (or 0093 from many landlines).
2. The network prefix: two digits starting with 7, for example 79.
3. The subscriber number: seven more digits, for example 123 4567.

Inside Afghanistan, people replace +93 with a single 0, so +93 79 123 4567 becomes 079 123 4567. That is why you often see Afghan numbers written with ten digits starting 07 — the 0 is simply the domestic dialling prefix.

When you send top-up online you can type the number in any of these forms. The WatanTopUp form removes the +93, 0093 or leading 0 for you and keeps the 9 significant digits.

How to check a number before sending credit

A wrong digit is the most common reason top-up goes to the wrong person, and credit delivered to a valid number can’t be reversed. Before paying:

• Count the digits. After +93 there must be exactly 9, starting with 7.
• Check the prefix against the network the person says they use. If they say “Roshan” but the number starts 070, ask again — 070 is AWCC.
• Copy rather than type. Copying the number from a WhatsApp chat or contact card avoids typos.
• Read it back. The form shows the formatted number (for example +93 79 123 4567 · Roshan) right above the Pay button.

Why prefixes matter for top-up

Each network has its own system, so credit must be sent to the right operator. When you type a number into the top-up form, the prefix is used to pick the operator automatically — you’ll see its logo appear in the field. It also decides which data bundles you can choose: today bundles are offered online for AWCC, Etisalat and Atoma, which you can compare on the data bundles page.

What about MTN numbers?

MTN Afghanistan now operates under the name Atoma. Nothing changes for existing numbers: SIM cards and numbers starting 077 or 076 keep working on the same network, and you top them up as Atoma numbers. Our article MTN Afghanistan is now Atoma explains more.

Can someone move their number to another network?

In some countries people can keep their number when they change operator (“number portability”). In Afghanistan the prefix is still a reliable guide to the network for almost all numbers. If the person tells you they use a different network from the one the prefix shows, contact support before sending credit so we can check.

Quick reference by network

• Roshan — 079, 072. Roshan recharge online
• AWCC (Afghan Wireless) — 070, 071. AWCC top-up
• Etisalat — 078, 073. Etisalat top-up
• Atoma (formerly MTN) — 077, 076. Atoma (MTN) top-up
• Salaam (Afghan Telecom) — 074, 075. Salaam top-up

Writing Afghan numbers for WhatsApp, calls and top-up

The same number is written slightly differently depending on what you use it for, and mixing the formats is a common source of mistakes:

• WhatsApp and international calls: use the full international format with no leading zero — +93 79 123 4567. A frequent error is writing +93 079…; the 0 must be dropped once you add +93.
• Calling from inside Afghanistan: use the local format with the leading zero — 079 123 4567.
• Online top-up: any format works on WatanTopUp. The form removes +93, 0093 or the leading 0 and keeps the 9 significant digits.

When a relative sends you their number, ask them to share their WhatsApp contact card instead of typing the digits. The contact card always contains the full international number, which removes most typing errors. Then compare the first two digits after +93 with the table above to confirm the network before you pay.

In short

Afghan mobile numbers are easy to decode once you know the pattern: +93, then a two-digit prefix starting with 7, then seven more digits. The prefix tells you the network — 079/072 Roshan, 070/071 AWCC, 078/073 Etisalat, 077/076 Atoma (formerly MTN) and 074/075 Salaam. Checking the prefix and counting the digits before you pay is the simplest way to make sure your top-up reaches the right person on the right network, and it takes only a few seconds. When in doubt, ask for the WhatsApp contact card instead of typing the number by hand.

Frequently asked questions