IDD Minutes & Cheapest IDD Packages From Malaysia
What IDD minutes are, how they are counted, and the cheapest way to call Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal and Myanmar from CelcomDigi (Digi, Celcom, Xpax), Hotlink and U Mobile.
What Are IDD Minutes?
IDD stands for International Direct Dialling, which means calling a phone number in another country from your Malaysian SIM. IDD minutes are call minutes you can use only for international calls, usually to one country, and usually bought as a prepaid IDD pass or IDD add-on.
- Not the same as normal minutes. The free or unlimited call minutes in your plan are for calls inside Malaysia. They do not cover calls to Pakistan or Bangladesh unless the plan says "IDD".
- Counted in blocks. CelcomDigi counts IDD pass minutes in 60-second blocks, so a 1 minute 10 second call uses 2 minutes.
- They expire. Passes have a short validity (CelcomDigi's Helo IDD Pass lasts 7 days). Unused minutes are lost when the pass ends.
- After the minutes run out, calls are charged at the normal pay-per-use IDD rate from your balance.
What is an IDD access code? Some networks give you a special prefix that sends your call through a cheaper international route, for example
132 on Hotlink/Maxis and 1310 ("Best IDD") on U Mobile. You dial the code, then the country code and number, instead of
00 or +.
Cheapest IDD Option on Each Network
| Network | Cheapest option | How to call |
|---|---|---|
| CelcomDigi prepaid (Digi, Celcom, Xpax) | Helo IDD Pass, from RM5 for 7 days | + or 00 + country code + number |
| Hotlink (Maxis prepaid) | IDD 132 access code | 132 + country code + number |
| U Mobile | Best IDD 1310 access code | 1310 + country code + number |
CelcomDigi (Digi, Celcom & Xpax): Helo IDD Pass
Digi and Celcom merged into CelcomDigi, so Digi and Xpax prepaid users now buy the same Helo IDD Pass. It is the cheapest packaged IDD offer we found for workers calling home, and it is available to all CelcomDigi prepaid users.
| Country | Price | IDD minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | RM5 | 30 min | 7 days |
| Bangladesh | RM5 / RM10 | 20 to 120 min (5 passes to choose from) | 7 days |
| India | RM10 | 70 min | 7 days |
| Indonesia | RM10 | 45 min | 7 days |
| Nepal | RM10 | 15 min | 7 days |
| Myanmar | RM10 | 13 min | 7 days |
How to buy the Helo IDD Pass
- Open the CelcomDigi app and look for the Helo IDD Pass in the add-ons for your prepaid line, or dial the USSD code 118*5*2# (as listed by CelcomDigi).
- Choose your country and pass, then confirm. Make sure you have enough balance first.
- Wait for the confirmation SMS. Then call the number as normal:
+92for Pakistan,+880Bangladesh,+91India.
- No auto-renewal. Buy a new pass when the 7 days end.
- The pass works only inside Malaysia, not while roaming, and not for video, premium or satellite calls.
- Check remaining minutes and validity in the CelcomDigi app.
CelcomDigi prepaid pay-per-use IDD rates (without a pass)
| Country | Mobile & fixed |
|---|---|
| Pakistan (+92) | RM0.46 |
| Bangladesh (+880) | RM0.16 |
| India (+91) | RM0.25 |
| Indonesia (+62) | RM0.35 |
| Nepal (+977) | RM0.68 |
| Myanmar (+95) | RM1.34 |
Rates from CelcomDigi's prepaid IDD rate list (last updated November 2025). Compare: the Pakistan pass works out to about RM0.17 per minute.
Hotlink & Maxis: IDD 132
Hotlink (Maxis prepaid) gives cheaper international calls through its IDD 132 access code.
- Dial 132, then the country code and number. Example for Pakistan:
132 92 3XX XXXXXXX(drop the first 0 of the Pakistani number). - Hotlink also lets you dial 132 00 and choose option 1 for an international call.
- Check the latest per-minute rate for your country in the Hotlink app under Roaming & IDD before calling.
Help: call 123 from your Hotlink number or 1300-820-120. Prices may be subject to service tax.
U Mobile: Best IDD 1310
- First turn on IDD: MyUMobile app → Settings → Activate International Direct Dial, and wait for the SMS.
- For cheaper rates dial 1310 + country code + number, for example
1310 880 1XXXXXXXXXfor Bangladesh. Dialling00uses the standard IDD rate. - U Mobile publishes its special 1310 rates in a "Special IDD Rates" list on its IDD page.
Cheapest of All: Internet Calls on Wi-Fi or Data
If your family has a smartphone and internet, a WhatsApp or IMO voice call on Wi-Fi or a mobile data plan costs no IDD minutes at all. Use IDD minutes when you need to call a normal phone number, a bank, an office, or family members without internet.
Tips to Save on International Calls
- Pick the right country pass. IDD minutes for Pakistan will not work for calls to India or Bangladesh.
- Use your minutes within 7 days, and do not buy a new pass until the old one is nearly used.
- Keep calls short when paying per minute. Calls are billed in full 60-second blocks.
- Drop the first 0 of the number at home after the country code: Pakistan
0300…becomes+92 300…. - Going home? Turn on Digi Wi-Fi Calling or U Mobile Wi-Fi Calling to call Malaysian numbers without roaming charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
IDD minutes are call minutes for international calls from your Malaysian number, usually to one chosen country. You get them by buying an IDD pass or add-on, such as CelcomDigi's Helo IDD Pass.
A WhatsApp or IMO call over Wi-Fi is cheapest if the other person has internet. For a normal phone call, CelcomDigi's Helo IDD Pass gives 30 minutes to Pakistan for RM5 (7 days), about RM0.17 per minute.
Usually not. Unlimited or free minutes in Malaysian plans are for local calls. International calls use IDD minutes, or are charged from your balance at the IDD rate.
Open the CelcomDigi app and check your active add-ons. It shows the IDD minutes left and when the pass expires.
They are IDD access codes that route your call through a cheaper international line: 132 on Hotlink/Maxis and 1310 on U Mobile. Dial the code, then the country code and number.
More Guides for Workers in Malaysia
Official Sources
- CelcomDigi Helo IDD Pass: help.celcomdigi.com
- CelcomDigi prepaid IDD rates: help.celcomdigi.com
- Hotlink International Direct Dial: hotlink.com.my
- U Mobile International Direct Dial: u.com.my
Prices and passes are set by the networks and change often. If you see a different price, tell us in the comments and we will update this page.
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