Telephone Numbers in Malaysia - Mobile Phone Codes and IP Telephony

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, Maxis and DiGi. In 2005, 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 three-digit 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. Calling from mobile phones to fixed lines and vice versa requires full national dialing. Since 2009 calls between mobile require the full national number, regardless if both parties are in the same mobile phone code (i.e. 012 to 012). Calling from outside Malaysia requires the leading zero to be dropped.

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.

As codes are being exhausted, two new ranges 011 and 015 is made available for assignment. Subscriber numbers will be eight digits long, resulting in an 11-digit mobile number including the leading zero. The two major ISPs in Malaysia, TMNet and Jaring are assigned numbers in the 015-4 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 won bids for 3G services, but had 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. Celcom also offers satellite calls system, thus offering 99.99% coverage in outdoor areas in Malaysia using Vodafone backbones.