Table of Call Signs - ITU
Official ITU Table of International Call Sign Series for global amateur radio identification
Description
Appendix 42 to the Radio Regulations, published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as the authoritative global reference for assigning call sign series to countries. This essential resource allows radio operators, including those in the amateur service, to accurately identify the national origin of a station based on its callsign prefix. It is fundamental for DXers, contesters, and anyone involved in international two-way radio communication, ensuring correct country identification for awards like DXCC.
The table details the specific blocks of call signs allocated to each administration, facilitating the unambiguous determination of a station's geographical location. For instance, prefixes like K, W, N, and AA-AL are assigned to the United States, while G and M series denote the United Kingdom. Understanding these allocations is crucial for logging contacts and verifying QSLs.
This ITU publication is regularly updated to reflect changes in national assignments and new allocations, maintaining its accuracy as the definitive source for call sign series worldwide. It underpins the global framework of radio communication.