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Area code 980

Where 980 is, how it is dialed, which carriers hold its numbers and how many of its codes are in use, from NANPA's 10/01/2026 files.

State
NC
In service
2001
Assigned codes
463of 800 possible
Carriers
52

Where area code 980 is

NANPA lists 980 as an in-service geographic area code for North Carolina, first put into service on April 1, 2001. It is an overlay: 980 and 704 cover the same territory, so neighbors on the same street can have different area codes. It is in the Eastern time zone. The places with the most assigned exchanges include Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Monroe, and Lincolnton. By population, its largest named places are Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Huntersville, and Kannapolis.

Area code 980: NANPA facts
ItemValue
StateNorth Carolina
In service sinceApril 1, 2001
Assigned by NANPASeptember 20, 1999
OverlayYes, with 704
Parent area code (NANPA)704
Time zoneEastern
Local calls within the codeten digits (area code plus number)
Assigned central office codes463
Rate centers with codes57
Carriers holding codes52
Pooled codes456
Codes assigned since 2020195
Relief planning in progressNo

Source: NANPA NPA report and utilized central office code file, both dated 10/01/2026.

Where 980 numbers are local

980 holds 8.3% of the 5,574 central office codes assigned in North Carolina, the 7th most of the state's 10 codes. 44 Census places could be matched to rate centers with 980 exchanges; the most populous are Charlotte (943,000), Concord (112,000), Gastonia (85,535), and Huntersville (67,087). Each place page lists the exact prefixes and carriers for that town.

Most populous places with 980 exchanges
PlacePopulation (2024)Area codesExchangesCarriers
Charlotte, NC943,476704, 98053949
Concord, NC112,395704, 9806221
Gastonia, NC85,535704, 9807518
Huntersville, NC67,087704, 9802212
Kannapolis, NC60,521704, 980189
Mooresville, NC52,884704, 9802012
Indian Trail, NC43,867704, 98073
Monroe, NC40,054704, 9804914
Salisbury, NC36,579704, 9804513
Matthews, NC32,048704, 980229
Statesville, NC31,693704, 9804415
Waxhaw, NC23,178704, 98063
Shelby, NC22,778704, 9803212
Harrisburg, NC20,335704, 980115
Mount Holly, NC18,723704, 980118

Population: Census Vintage 2024 estimates for the matched place. Exchanges and carriers: NANPA utilized code file.

Ten-digit and seven-digit dialing in 980

According to NANPA's dialing-plan data, local calls within 980 are dialed as ten digits (area code plus number) and toll calls as 1 plus ten digits. Because local calls need the area code, business cards, signage and website copy should always show the full ten-digit number.

Who holds 980 exchanges

52 carriers hold the 463 central office codes assigned in 980. Onvoy, LLC - NC has the most, with 86 (19%). 456 of the codes (98%) are pooled, meaning the code holder shares blocks of 1,000 numbers with other carriers instead of using all 10,000 itself. The code holder is not necessarily the carrier serving a given number today, since numbers can be ported between providers.

Largest code holders in area code 980
Carrier (NANPA operating company)ExchangesShare
Onvoy, LLC - NC8619%
Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - NC6113%
Suncom d/b/a T-mobile USA4810%
Bandwidth.com CLEC, LLC - NC388.2%
New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC - Ga265.6%
Bellsouth Telecomm INC d/b/a Southern Bell Tel & Tel214.5%
Metropcs, INC.173.7%
Level 3 Communications, LLC - NC163.5%
Onvoy Spectrum, LLC143.0%
Ton80 Communications, LLC143.0%
Peerless Network of North Carolina, LLC - NC112.4%
TWC Ip Enabled Services, LLC112.4%

Carrier names are the operating company (OCN) names on NANPA's utilized central office code file dated 10/01/2026. A carrier holding a code may port numbers to other carriers.

Local calling areas in 980

NANPA assigns each central office code to a rate center, the local calling area that decides whether a call is local or toll. 980 has codes in 57 rate centers. Rate center names in the file are abbreviations; where one matches a Census place, the table links to that city's local-number page.

Rate centers in area code 980 by assigned codes
Rate center (NANPA)PlaceCodes
CHARLOTTECharlotte, NC194
CONCORDConcord, NC25
GASTONIAGastonia, NC24
MONROEMonroe, NC18
LINCOLNTONLincolnton, NC12
SALISBURYSalisbury, NC12
STATESVLStatesville, NC11
MATTHEWSMatthews, NC8
MOORESVLMooresville, NC8
DAVIDSONDavidson, NC7
KINGS MTnot matched7
SHELBYShelby, NC7
BESSEMERCYBessemer City, NC6
HUNTERSVLHuntersville, NC6
ALBEMARLEAlbemarle, NC6
KANNAPOLISKannapolis, NC6
DENVERnot matched5
LOCUSTLocust, NC5
HARRISBURGHarrisburg, NC5
MOUNTHOLLYMount Holly, NC5
BELMONTBelmont, NC5
TROUTMANTroutman, NC4
LATTIMORELattimore, NC4
CLEVELANDCleveland, NC4
LOWELLLowell, NC4

Top 25 of 57 rate centers.

Number supply in 980

An area code has 800 possible central office codes that start with 2 through 9, a few of which are reserved (such as N11 service codes and 555). 463 are assigned in 980, 58% of 800. 195 were assigned in 2020 or later.

Area code 980: central office codes by decade assigned
Decade assignedExchangesShare
2000s5212%
2010s18743%
2020s19545%

Assignment dates as recorded in NANPA's utilized code file; codes without a recorded date are excluded.

Getting a 980 number for your business

For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in area code 980 is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.

Frequently asked questions

Where is area code 980?

980 is a geographic area code in North Carolina. Places with the most assigned exchanges include Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, and Monroe.

What time zone is area code 980 in?

NANPA lists 980 in the Eastern time zone.

When did area code 980 go into service?

NANPA records an in-service date of April 1, 2001. The code was assigned on September 20, 1999.

Is 980 an overlay area code?

Yes. It shares its territory with 704.

Can my business get a 980 phone number?

Callata includes up to 3 local numbers on its $99/month plan (5 users included). Which 980 numbers are open depends on carrier inventory when you choose, and you can port an existing number for free.