What is a long distance access code?

Codes that enable an individual to place calls over long distances or to other countries or cities are known as long distance access codes. They consist of the country code and an area code. They may include other codes depending on the telephone provider.

Calls made using long distance access codes typically have a higher rate than local calls. Earlier, calls to international destinations were routed to an operator who would connect the call to the desired phone line. Since the 1950s, long distance calls are directly made using access codes. A network provider can give detailed information for specific calling rates and access codes.