Call barring blocks specific call types at the network level on your Batelco line — the restriction holds even if someone resets the handset, which is exactly why Bahrain businesses lean on it to control costs on staff and SimSim handsets rather than trusting employees to self-police their own dialling.
Quick answer
All bars use the standard GSM barring codes with your barring PIN (default 0000):
| Bar | Code |
|---|---|
| All outgoing calls | *33*PIN# |
| Outgoing international only | *331*PIN# |
| All incoming calls | *35*PIN# |
| Remove all bars | #330*PIN# |
The business case: capping cost without cutting access
Barring outgoing international calls (*331*PIN#) is the standard move for a company fleet of Batelco lines — staff keep full local and GCC dialling for their day-to-day work, but an accidental or unauthorised international call simply can’t connect. It’s a one-time setup per SIM rather than an ongoing spend-monitoring task, which is why it scales better than trying to police call logs after the fact.
Why network-level barring beats handset restrictions
A phone-side call block only stops your own device from dialling out — swap SIMs, factory-reset the phone, or hand it to someone else, and the restriction is gone. A Batelco network bar travels with the SIM itself: it applies regardless of which handset the SIM sits in, and only your barring PIN can remove it. For a lost or misplaced phone, that’s the difference between a temporary inconvenience for whoever finds it and a restriction they can simply bypass.
Securing the PIN itself
The factory-default PIN is 0000 on every Batelco line — which means anyone who knows to try it can lift your bars just as easily as you can. Call 196 to set a personal PIN the moment you activate any bar; otherwise the restriction only works until someone else guesses the default.
Need the reverse — routing calls elsewhere rather than blocking them? See Batelco call forwarding.
Codes are the GSM/3GPP standard supplementary-service set, verified against Batelco’s official support guidance, July 2026.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1
Activate
*33*0000#.
- 2
Check
*#33#.
- 3
Cancel
#330*PIN#.
Troubleshooting
PIN
0000. Call 196.
Blocked
#330*PIN#.
Look Up More USSD Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop only international calls?
Apply *331*PIN#. Local and national calls keep working, but outgoing international ones are blocked — ideal for cost control on company lines.
Is there a charge?
No. Setting and removing bars on Batelco is free; you only pay for the calls you actually make.
What if I forget the PIN?
The factory PIN is 0000. If you've changed it and can't recall it, call 196 to have it reset.
Does a network bar survive a factory reset?
Yes — it's applied to the SIM/line on Batelco's network, not stored on the handset, so resetting or swapping phones doesn't remove it.
Can I bar just one specific number?
Standard GSM barring blocks call categories (all outgoing, international, all incoming), not individual numbers. For blocking a specific caller, use your phone's built-in contact-blocking feature instead.