How to call Indonesia | In-depth guide with examples

Connecting with Indonesia from the United States is essential for various reasons, encompassing both commercial and personal aspects.

Indonesia, with key industries such as textiles, agriculture, and tourism—along with its rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary delights—offers numerous opportunities for international business and personal connections.

Understanding the complexities of interacting with this dynamic Southeast Asian nation is crucial for strengthening these ties.

Understanding Indonesia’s calling codes

Before making an international call to Indonesia, it's crucial to understand the fees your service provider charges for such calls.

A stable connection is also essential to avoid issues like latency or poor voice quality.

1. Check the time in Indonesia

When making a call to Indonesia, it's important to consider the time difference. Since Indonesia spans three time zones, can be 12–15 hours ahead of U.S. time zones, depending on your location in the U.S. and the specific region of Indonesia you're calling, as well as any daylight saving time adjustments. Checking the local time in the specific part of Indonesia you wish to call will ensure your call is made at a convenient time for the recipient.

2. Dial the exit code

For international calls from the U.S., you need to dial the exit code 011 to indicate you're making a call outside the country.

3. Enter Indonesia’s country code

After the exit code, dial Indonesia's country code (+62) to connect your call to Indonesia.

4 Dial the area code and local number

Start with 011, followed by 62, the country code for Indonesia.

For a landline

Input the area code for the specific region in Indonesia you're calling, which can be one to three digits, followed by the local number, which can be five to eight digits long.

For example, to call a landline in Jakarta with the area code 21 and the local number 1234567, you would dial 011-62-21-1234567.

For a mobile phone

Dial the mobile number directly after the country code, omitting the first 0. Indonesian mobile numbers typically start with 8 and are followed by a series of digits, making it a total of 10–12 digits, including the country code.

For instance, to call an Indonesian mobile number like 08123456789, the correct sequence would be 011-62-8123456789.

Tips for a successful call

Before placing a call to Indonesia, ensure you have a strong connection to avoid dropped calls. However, it’s still important to have a plan in case of technical issues. For instance, if the call drops, know whether to call back or wait for the other party to call you.

Having an understanding of and respect for Indonesian business culture and etiquette is also critical. Some things to keep in mind include:

• Indonesian business culture values hierarchy. Addressing someone by their title and last name shows respect. If they have an academic or professional title, use it. If not, "Bapak" (Mr.) for men and "Ibu" (Mrs./Ms.) for women followed by their last name is appropriate.
• Show respect by listening attentively and not interrupting. Patience is highly valued, and pushing too hard for immediate answers can be seen as disrespectful.
• Be mindful of Islamic practices, especially during the month of Ramadan. Scheduling calls outside of prayer times and being understanding of fasting practices is important.

Finally, as with calling any country, it’s important to be patient and flexible, as the pace of business might differ from what you're used to in the U.S.

Considerations for Indonesia

Calls to Indonesia, like any international destination, can be influenced by various factors. Here's an overview of the key elements that could affect your calls, including language, time differences, and other considerations:

Language and culture

Indonesia is known for its vast linguistic and cultural diversity, but Bahasa Indonesia (the national language) is widely spoken across the archipelago. Common Indonesian greetings include:

• Selamat pagi—"Good morning." Used widely across Indonesia in the morning.
• Selamat siang/sore—"Good afternoon/evening." Used depending on the time of day.
• Apa kabar?—"How are you?" A courteous way to start a conversation.

Beyond Bahasa Indonesia, the country is home to hundreds of regional languages and dialects that enrich its cultural tapestry.

In regions such as Bali and Java, languages like Balinese and Javanese introduce their own unique greetings and expressions, showcasing the country's diverse linguistic heritage.

For instance, in Javanese, "Sugeng enjing" is used for "Good morning." And "Piye kabare?" asks "How are you?" These regional languages and dialects, together with Bahasa Indonesia, illustrate Indonesia's intricate linguistic landscape, underlining its rich historical background and vibrant cultural traditions.

Time zones

Considering the time differences is essential when making international calls to Indonesia, given that the country spans three time zones:

1. Western Indonesia Time (WIB)
2. Central Indonesia Time (WITA)
3. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT)

Here's a quick guide to the time difference, based on the Indonesian region you’re calling:

How much does it cost to call Indonesia?

Call charges to Indonesia can vary based on your carrier, the duration of the call, and the time of day. Check with your service provider for detailed rates.

Carrier rates are particularly significant, as different service providers offer varying tariffs for international calls.

These rates can fluctuate based on the type of plan you have, whether it's a standard pay-as-you-go rate or a specialized international calling plan. Some carriers might offer discounted rates for calls to Indonesia during off-peak hours or as part of a bundle that includes a set number of international minutes.

It's advisable to thoroughly review your carrier's pricing structure and any available international calling packages to ensure cost-effective communication.

Additionally, the duration of your call plays a crucial role in determining the overall cost.

Longer calls will incur higher charges, making it important to manage the length of your conversations, especially if you're on a pay-per-minute plan. The time of day when you place the call can also impact the cost due to varying peak and off-peak rates.

Calls made during peak hours are often more expensive compared to those made during off-peak times, such as late evenings or weekends, depending on your carrier's specific rate schedule.

Being mindful of these factors and planning your calls accordingly can help in managing communication expenses effectively while staying connected with contacts in Indonesia.

Make affordable calls to Indonesia with Telnyx

With these tips and recommendations, you're ready to call Indonesia with confidence.

If you’re looking for more guidance on global calling, Telnyx’s team of experts can help you navigate the complexities of international communication.

Telnyx is a next-gen communications platform that offers a global private IP network, multi-cloud redundancy, and carrier-grade services. Our elastic SIP trunking services make it easy to call nearly every country in the world. We also offer support and guidance to help you grow and scale your business.

With competitive pricing and a wide variety of local phone numbers in over 140 countries, Telnyx provides cost-effective calling solutions with unmatched expertise.

Contact our experts today to learn how we can help your business communicate effectively with contacts in Indonesia and 140+ other countries.