south sudan uses a two digit mobile code along with a seven digit phone number. for international calls, south sudan has been assigned the +211 code by the international telecommunications union (itu). before its secession, the area later to be known as south sudan used sudan's itu. however, even after its secession, south sudan used the sudan country code +249 until 1 october. the government of the nation said the code number +211 would become active within 48 hours of recognition of the country by the united nations (un). the un recognized south sudan on 14 july 2011, and in so the united nations suggested the code to become active by 16 july. the code went "live" on 1 october 2011, over two months behind schedule.