Telephone numbers in Malaysia

Country Code: +60
International Call Prefix: 00
Trunk Prefix: 0

Telephone numbers in Malaysia are regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) except Banks Telephone numbers which are jointly controlled by Bank Negara Malaysia and must start with the 01 11 or 01 19 prefix after the Malaysia dialing code for international calls.

Calls to Singapore do not require international dialing; calls are made using the 02 access code. Similarly, calls to Brunei from East Malaysia can be made using the 080 access code but calls from Peninsular Malaysia to Brunei require the international prefix 00673.

Geographic area codes

Geographic (fixed line) area codes are, excluding the STD prefix 0, one digit in Peninsular Malaysia (area codes 3 to 7 and 9) and two digits in East Malaysia (area codes 8x). In Peninsular Malaysia, an area code is usually shared by multiple states and territories and roughly follows state borders. The two East Malaysian states, Sabah and Sarawak, are split into multiple area codes.

Fixed line subscriber numbers are seven digits in Peninsular Malaysia (except Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, i.e. area code 3) and six digits in East Malaysia. Prior to 1999, subscriber numbers were seven digits in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor. From 1999 to 2001, subscriber numbers in these areas were expanded to eight digits in phases to meet new demands. Like telephone numbers in Germany, there are no standard lengths for subscriber numbers, for example older numbers in Kuala Lumpur is six digits long (03-xxxxxx), or very old numbers got only two digits long (03-xx).

Thus, a full national number is 10 digits in area code 3 and 9 digits elsewhere, including the STD prefix 0. When writing a telephone number with the area code, the area code and subscriber number is separated with a hyphen. Examples:

• A number 21345678 in Kuala Lumpur: 03-21345678
• A number 2134567 in Ipoh, Perak: 05-2134567
• A number 213456 in Kuching, Sarawak: 082-213456

Malaysia employs an open dialing plan, which means calling within the area code does not require the area code to be dialed, apart from mobile phone calls. Calls to and from mobile phones requires full national dialing. e.g. When calling a number 21345678 in Kuala Lumpur (03) from a fixed line phone:

• Within Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya: 21345678
• Outside Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Within Malaysia: 03-21345678
• Outside Malaysia: +60-3-21345678 (the initial 0 of the area code is omitted)

Area codes in Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu will be changed later, as currently 08 and 09 is starting to use for mobile phones.

02   Domestic access code to Singapore
03   Selangor & Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya & also Genting Highlands,Pahang
04   Kedah, Penang & Perlis
05   Perak & Cameron Highlands (Pahang)
06   Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Muar & Ledang (Johor)
07   Johor (except Muar & Ledang)
080  Domestic access code to Brunei (East Malaysia only)
081  reserved for domestic access/area code
082  Kuching (Sarawak)
083  Sri Aman (Sarawak)
084  Sarikei, Bintangor, Sibu, Kanowit, Song, & Kapit (Sarawak)
085  Lawas, Limbang, Miri (Sarawak)
086  Bintulu, Belaga (Sarawak)
087  Inner District (Sabah) & Federal Territory of Labuan
088  Kota Kinabalu, Kudat (Sabah)
089  Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Tawau (Sabah)
09   Kelantan, Pahang (except Cameron Highlands  &  Genting Highlands) & Terengganu

Mobile phone codes and IP telephony

Mobile phone codes and IP telephony codes are in the area code 1, ranging 2 digits excluding the leading zero.

Originally, each mobile phone operator is issued one mobile phone code. Through a series of mergers, there are currently three major mobile phone operators: Celcom (a subsidiary of TM), Maxis and DiGi. As existing numbers begin to run out, the three mobile phone operators are assigned numbers in 014 code distinguished by the first digit of the subscriber number.

A mobile phone number consist of a mobile phone code and a seven-digit subscriber number. Therefore, a mobile phone number is officially written as 01x-xxxxxxx, but for unofficial usage (such as number exchanging) are usually written as xxxxxxxx For example number 015-5123456 are written as 55123456, Formerly (until 2006) mobile phone numbers are written as 01-xxxxxxx, and in 2006, Malaysia changed to 10-digit system with the same way of number changing as in the Philippines, North Korea and Laos, is the (in Malaysia is 3rd) digit have to be doubled, for example 01-5123456 is changed to 015-5123456, but NOT the same way as Thailand, where the (in Thailand is 8) have to be added after 0. Calling from mobile phones to fixed lines and vice versa requires full national dialing. Calls between mobile require the full national number, regardless if both parties are in the same mobile phone code. Calling from outside Malaysia requires the leading zero to be dropped. In 2011, Thai mobile phone network True Move has been opened in Malaysia, and has brought 083 area code (same as in Thailand), but numbers are not linked with Thailand. Then in September 2011, DiGi has reserved four area codes, 086, 087, 088 and 089, but currently only 087 and 089 is being used.

Mobile phones in Malaysia uses 900/1800 MHz for GSM and 2100 MHz for WCDMA. Domestic roaming service is available free within Malaysia in places where there is only a single transmitter in place due to restrictions.

The dismantling of analogue services ART450 and ATUR800 as well as CDMA fixed line replacements for remote users by Mobikom (a subsidiary of Sapura) for Telekom Malaysia released the 010, 011 and 018 numbering for Mobile Virtual Numbering Operator (MVNO) services. 014 prefixes are also released to GSM900 and GSM1800 services due to the shortage of numbers. Telekom Malaysia do still operate the MOBILE FIXED LINE service for 011-18xx and 03/4/5/6/7/8/9 using the 850 TDMA frequency, with limited coverage. The 1515 Internet Service & Streamyx Wireless is also available up to 1Mbps on limited coverage using the same TDMA/CDMA network. The TM system operate on FIXED ESN numbering without the use of SIM card. This is gradually moved to the 011-18 numbers. ElectComms is also another Operator on the CDMA/TDMA network, offering PTT service.

As codes are being exhausted, a new range, 015x is made available for assignment. Despite the length of the code, subscriber numbers are seven digits, resulting in an 11-digit national number including the leading zero. The two major ISP, TMNet and Jaring are assigned numbers in the 0154 prefix to provide VoIP (also known as Telephony Service over IP, TSoIP) service. Starting 15 December 2010, the prefix 011-1 followed by 7 digits would be available for use, which marks the first availability where a full cellular number contains 11 digits.

Jaring, MIMOS as a winning bidder for 3G services, but has yet to use up a prefix. U Mobile (formerly MiTV), part of Berjaya Holdings, too won a 3G-only license and thus used the 018 prefix with 7 numbers (branded as U Mobile). Celcom also offers satellite calls system, thus offering 99.99% coverage in outdoor Malaysia using Vodafone backbones.

010          DiGi, XOX Com Sdn Bhd, Tune Talk MVNO (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile, formerly Celcom Art900 on analogue mobile) 
011-10       Packet One Networks, REDtone Marketing(formerly TM ATUR 450 on analogue mobile)
011-11       U Mobile
011-12       Maxis
011-13       XOX, Baraka Telecom Sdn Bhd
011-15       Tune Talk
011-16       DiGi
011-17       YTL Communications
011-18       TM
011-19       Celcom
011          TM East Malaysia Service (6 Digits only)(Gradually moved over)
012          Maxis (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile, formerly Binariang)
013          Celcom (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800/Satellite mobile, formerly TMTouch)
014-2        Maxis (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-3        DiGi (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-4        reserved (for Mobile Number Portability testing)
014-5        Celcom (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-6        DiGi (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-7        Maxis (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-8        Celcom (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
014-9        DiGi (GSM900/GSM1800 mobile)
015-3        B & E Wireless Mobile (Wireless Mobile Phone Line)
015-4        Celcom
015-5        Celcom
015-6        Celcom
015-8        Broadband wireless access
016          DiGi (GSM1800 mobile)
017          Maxis|HotLink (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800 mobile, formerly Adam)
018          Yes Broadband (IEEE 802.16e) by YTL Communications, U Mobile (3G/GSM900/DVB-T mobile)
019          Celcom (3G/3.5G/GSM900/GSM1800/Satellite mobile)
083          True Malaysia
084          DiGi
087          DiGi
089          DiGi

Non-geographical short codes and special numbers

100          Universal operator service (formerly fixed telephone & facsimile fault report)
101          Operator assistance for domestic calls (to be combined to 100)
102          Operator service assistance (to be combined to 100)
103          Fixed telephone directory assistance
104          Telegram services
1051         Time announcement
1066         Earthquakes and Tsunami Alert Centre
108          Operator assistance for international calls (reallocated to 102, to be combined to 100)
112          Mobile network emergency telephone number
12xx         reserved, also used in mobile network roaming outgoing calls
1300-xx-xxxx Local rate telephone number
13100        Celcom budget IDD
13188        TM SMS
13200        Maxis value IDD
1315         TMNet EZnet dial-up Internet access service
1377x        Mass calling service
141xx        Internationally accessible short codes
1500-xx-xxxx Paging service
1508-xx-xxxx Dial-up internet access service
1511         Jaring dial-up Internet access service
1512         Maxis Net dial-up Internet access service
1513         TMNet EZnet dial-up Internet access service
1515         TMNet dial-up Internet access service
1516         iDiGi dial-up Internet access service
1517         Time Net dial-up Internet access service
1519         Celcom Net dial-up Internet access service
152x         ISDN dial-up Internet access service
15454        Electricity fault reporting
1600-xR-xxxx Premium-rate telephone number
1700-xx-xxxx Personal numbering service
1800-xx-xxxx Toll-free telephone number
18Yxx        Long distance carrier selection code
1900-xx-xxxx Multimedia service number
600-xx-xxxx  Audiotext Premium-rate telephone number (re-allocated to 1600 prefix)
991          Civil defense service (combined to 999)
994          Fire Department (combined to 999)
995          Gas Pipeline emergency (combined to 999)
999          Universal emergency service

Note: R= 1 to 6, x = 0 to 9, Y= 1 to 9

Number portability

Recently, the MCMC announced the mobile number portability (MNP) service for mobile carriers. Thus, subscribers are allowed to retain their mobile numbers when they switch to another service provider, in a bid to increase market competition. Therefore, the mobile number prefix only indicates the original service provider.

Number portability has not been offered for fixed lines, as TM holds a monopoly except in Putrajaya and some areas in the Klang Valley.

See also

• Communications in Malaysia
• Telephone numbering plan

External links

• MCMC Numbering & Electronic Addressing. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12.
• MCMC Numbering And Electronic Addressing Plan. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10.

References

ITU allocations list