USSD Codes in Laos (2026): Unitel, Lao Telecom & ETL
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Short version: in Laos, *122# checks your credit on Unitel and Lao Telecom (ETL uses *122#, or *310# on older lines), *123# checks Unitel and Lao Telecom data, *110# shows your own number, and *121*PIN# recharges a scratch voucher. You buy data with Unitel *123*CODE#, Lao Telecom *559*CODE# and ETL *228*CODE#. A registered (KYC) SIM is normally required, and codes change between SIM generations — always read the price on screen before confirming a purchase.
USSD codes are the short *…# strings you dial to check a balance, top up, register, or buy data without an app or an internet connection. This guide collects the codes for Laos' main operators — Unitel, Lao Telecom (LTC / Laotel) and ETL — separately from the codes that are only reported by third parties, so you always know how much to trust a number. Nothing here replaces trying the code on your own SIM: operators run several generations of USSD systems at once.
USSD codes in Laos at a glance
The table below is the practical cheat sheet. Entries marked reported come from current field guides rather than the operator's own site; entries marked official are published by the operator.
| What you want to do | Unitel | Lao Telecom | ETL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Find my number | *110# | *110# | *110# |
| Check credit / balance | *122# | *122# | *122# (or *310#) |
| Check data balance | *123# | *123# | *126# |
| Check KYC / registration | *1021# | *1021# | *1021# |
| Buy a data package | *123*CODE# | *559*CODE# | *228*CODE# |
| Recharge a voucher | *121*PIN# | *121*PIN# | *121*PIN# |
| Customer service | 109 | 101 | 135 |
*121*PIN# and the customer-service numbers are the most stable entries; package codes are the most changeable.How to use a USSD code in Laos
Dial the code exactly as written, then press the call button. Some codes return the answer immediately; others open a text menu you navigate with the keypad. A few (for example some package purchases) reply by SMS instead. Because USSD runs over the signalling channel, it works without mobile data and without an app.
Three practical rules:
- Check the price on screen before confirming. Package inventories, data allowances and prices change without a public changelog.
- Make sure the SIM is registered (KYC). Package codes often fail on an unregistered line — see
*1021#below. - If a code fails, fall back to the app or the call centre. Operators run overlapping old and new USSD systems, so a code that works on one SIM can be silent on another.
Unitel USSD codes
Unitel is Laos' largest operator and the one most travellers end up on. Note that Unitel does not publish a single clean USSD reference page, so its codes are triangulated from operator sources, shop boards and current guides.
Check your Unitel balance, number and data
| Function | Code | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Credit balance | *122# | High — best-confirmed Unitel code |
| Own phone number | *110# (try *127# if not) | Reported |
| Data balance | *123# | Reported |
| Registration / KYC status | *1021# | Reported; cited in Lao Gov-X material |
| Customer service | 109 or 021 999 666 | Official |
Buy a Unitel data package
The current Unitel package family is *123*CODE# — for example *123*10K3#. The older self-service menu *209#, and package strings like *209*22#, still appear in the field on some SIMs. Browse with *209#, or read the current codes and prices in our Unitel data-package guide.
Recharge a Unitel voucher
Dial *121*PIN#, replacing PIN with the scratch-card code. Some local sources also report *123*PIN# as an alternative recharge form.
Lao Telecom (LTC / Laotel) USSD codes
Lao Telecom is the messiest operator to document because several package systems are live at once. Its basic account codes are consistent, but data-balance and package codes vary by SIM.
Core Lao Telecom codes
| Function | Code | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Own phone number | *110# | Reported |
| Main balance | *122# | Official |
| Data balance | *123# (also *124# reported) | Reported |
| Package check | *5757*# or *131*# | Reported |
| Recharge a voucher | *121*PIN# | Reported |
| Customer service | 101 | Official |
Lao Telecom package codes
Lao Telecom sells data through package-specific strings rather than one universal menu. Three families are currently visible: *559*…# (standard data), *558*…# (social bundles) and *118*…#. Examples include *559*6# for 1 GB / 2 days, *559*1# for 10 GB / 10 days and *558*518# for a 30 GB social bundle. Use the response prompt to confirm the current price, and check our Laos internet-provider comparison for the wider picture.
ETL USSD codes
ETL is the easiest operator to document from a first-party source: its current English site publishes the basic codes and the package scheme directly.
Core ETL codes
| Function | Code | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Own phone number | *110# (or *311#) | Reported / official |
| Credit balance | *122# | Official |
| Data & bonus balance | *126# | Official |
| Recharge a voucher | *121*PIN# | Official |
| Customer service | 135 (KYC: 139) | Official |
ETL data packages
ETL uses the pattern *228*CODE#. Examples from its official Net SIM 4.5G page: *228*61# (ET1, 6 GB / 3 days), *228*64# (ET4, 10 GB / 30 days) and *228*12# (ET Play 85, 75 GB / 30 days). ETL also says a SIM must be registered through the Lao KYC app or by calling 139.
TPlus and the older Beeline codes
TPlus — and the older Beeline brand you may still see on older SIMs and guides — does not publish a clear public USSD reference. Tourist guides generally list the same basic codes as Unitel (*110# for your number, *122# for balance). Treat TPlus and Beeline codes as unverified and confirm them with the SIM's welcome SMS or the operator's menu.
USSD codes that are reported but not officially confirmed
Older documentation circulates widely. These are worth trying, but they are legacy or alternative codes rather than current official ones:
- Unitel:
*127#(own number),*126#or*101#(data balance),*209*CODE#(older package activation). - Lao Telecom:
*124#(data),*125#(voice),*126#(SMS). - ETL:
*124#(data balance, per some 2026 guides),*300#(generic help directory),*311#(reported for both number and recharge).
What if a USSD code does not work?
- Use the operator app. My Unitel / Unitel Group, Lao Telecom's services app and the ETL app all show balance, packages and top-up.
- Call the service line. Unitel
109, Lao Telecom101, ETL135(registration/KYC:139). - Check your registration. Many package codes fail on an unregistered (non-KYC) SIM.
- Remember codes differ by SIM generation. A tourist SIM, a standard prepaid SIM, a postpaid line and an eSIM can each behave differently.
Do you need a local SIM — and KYC — to use these codes?
Most of these codes only work on a Laos SIM that is registered under the local KYC rules; operators must register prepaid users, so a brand-new unregistered SIM will often refuse package purchases. Our guide to buying a SIM card in Laos covers where to buy one, and the shop's Unitel registration and activation guide walks through the KYC steps.
If you would rather skip registration and USSD entirely, a Laos travel eSIM is pre-registered and activates when it first connects to a Lao network — no SIM queue, no KYC line, and no balance codes to remember.
Related guides
- How to choose an eSIM for Laos: local vs regional roaming (2026)
- Internet providers in Laos compared (2026)
- Unitel prepaid data package and plan prices (2026)
- Mobile data plans in Laos
We last checked these codes against operator sites and current guides on 2 October 2026. USSD families change — if a code does not work on your SIM, use the operator's app or service line rather than assuming the number is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What USSD code checks my balance in Laos? +
For Unitel dial *122# for credit and *123# for data. Lao Telecom uses *122# for credit. ETL uses *122# (or *310# on older lines) for credit and *126# for data and bonus balance. If a code fails, use the operator's app or the self-service menu.
What is the USSD code to find my own Lao phone number? +
*110# is the most widely reported own-number code for Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL. Some Unitel-specific guides list *127# instead — try *110# first, then *127#.
How do I buy a data package with USSD in Laos? +
Unitel uses *123*CODE# (the current package family) or *209# for the self-service menu. Lao Telecom uses package-specific strings such as *559*…#, *558*…# and *118*…#. ETL uses *228*CODE# (for example *228*61#). Package codes and prices change often, so read the on-screen price before you confirm.
What is the KYC or registration USSD code in Laos? +
*1021# is reported for checking registration/KYC status on Unitel and is cited in Lao government Gov-X material; Lao Telecom and ETL also report *1021#. A SIM normally has to be registered (KYC) before package codes work reliably.
Do I need USSD codes if I use a Laos eSIM? +
Usually not. A pre-registered travel eSIM is already activated and connects when it first reaches a Lao network, so there is no USSD to dial and no registration queue. USSD codes matter when you buy a physical local SIM and need to register it or buy packages.
Which customer-service numbers do Lao mobile operators use? +
Unitel: 109 (or 021 999 666). Lao Telecom: 101. ETL: 135 for general support and 139 for registration/KYC. These call-centre numbers are more stable than the USSD codes themselves.
Need mobile data sorted for your Laos trip? Our Laos eSIM runs on the local Unitel network, from $6.90.
