Pulsa

Pulsa is a term used in Indonesia and some Southeast Asian markets to refer to prepaid mobile phone credit. The balance, referred to as pulsa, is purchased before use and is debited as calls, texts, and data are consumed. Pulsa acts as a stored-value balance managed by mobile network operators, and increasingly by third-party payment services that offer top-up shortcuts.

Pulsa can be bought as physical vouchers sold at convenience stores and kiosks or digitally through bank apps, e-wallets, operator portals, or carrier apps. Vouchers carry a numeric code that is redeemed on the phone or through an app to credit the account. Digital top-ups are processed in real time, often immediately updating the user’s balance.

Pulsa remains a central feature of mobile service in many parts of the region because it underpins prepaid plans and allows users to control spending. Operators offer pulsa bundles and data packs that complement the base credit. In some jurisdictions, expiry rules and disclosure requirements govern pulsa balances and top-up terms.

While pulsa is most closely associated with Indonesia, the term has broader regional recognition as a generic label for prepaid mobile credit; however, in other languages or contexts, the word can have unrelated meanings such as 'pulse' or 'to press.'