SIM Card & Internet Indonesia 2026 | Expat Guide

Q: What is the best mobile provider in Indonesia for expats?

Telkomsel has the widest coverage and best 4G/5G network but costs more. XL Axiata offers best value data packages (IDR 50-100K for 20-50GB). Indosat (IM3) is budget-friendly. For Bali specifically, all three have good coverage in tourist areas.

Q: How do I get a SIM card as a foreigner in Indonesia?

Buy a tourist SIM at the airport or any phone shop. Registration requires passport scan. Tourist SIMs come pre-loaded with data (15-30GB). For long-term, register a regular SIM with your passport. eSIMs from Airalo or Holafly don't require physical registration.

Q: What home internet options are available in Bali?

IndiHome fiber: IDR 300-500K/month for 20-50Mbps (most reliable). Biznet: IDR 400-700K for faster speeds. MNC Play and First Media also available in some areas. Many expats use mobile hotspot as backup. Coworking spaces typically offer 50-100Mbps.

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SIM Cards & Internet in Indonesia 2026: Expat Guide

Staying connected in Indonesia is easy and affordable. Here's everything you need to know about mobile data and internet.

Mobile Providers Compared

Indonesian Mobile Providers

Best options for foreigners

Feature	Telkomsel Best coverage	XL Axiata Good value	Indosat (IM3) Budget option	3 (Tri) Cheapest data	Smartfren 4G specialist
Coverage	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★☆☆	★★☆☆☆
Speed	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆
Price	★★★☆☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆
Best For	Reliable everywhere	Balance of price/quality	Cities, budget	Heavy data users	Urban areas only

Data Package Costs

Monthly Data Cost

Estimate your mobile costs

Default Inputs

Monthly Data Usage: Moderate (15-30GB)
Provider: Telkomsel

Estimated Result

Monthly PackageRp 150.000

Annual TotalRp 1.800.000

Estimated total

Approximately USD 9/month

Rp 150.000

Getting a SIM Card

Tourist SIM (Airport/Shop)

Easiest Option

Available at airports, malls, and phone shops: - Pre-registered (no passport copy needed) - Ready to use immediately - Tourist packages with data - Cost: IDR 50-150K with data

Regular SIM Registration

Since 2019, Indonesia requires SIM card registration with ID.

SIM Registration Requirements

0 of 4 completed0/3 required

IMEI Registration

Important for Foreign Phones

Foreign phones must register their IMEI to work with Indonesian SIMs beyond 90 days.

Options:

Register at airport arrival (free for first phone)
Register online via Bea Cukai (customs)
Pay tax for additional devices (~IDR 2.5M)

Without registration, your SIM will stop working after 90 days.

Recommended Data Packages

Telkomsel (Best Coverage)

Package	Data	Validity	Price
Combo Sakti	15GB	30 days	IDR 100K
Combo Sakti	30GB	30 days	IDR 150K
Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	IDR 400K

XL Axiata (Good Value)

Package	Data	Validity	Price
XTRA Combo	20GB	30 days	IDR 100K
XTRA Combo	40GB	30 days	IDR 175K
Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	IDR 350K

Tri (Budget)

Package	Data	Validity	Price
AON	30GB	30 days	IDR 80K
AON	60GB	30 days	IDR 150K
Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	IDR 250K

Home Internet (WiFi)

Fiber Providers

Home Internet Providers

Fixed broadband options

Feature	IndiHome (Telkom) Most widespread	Biznet Urban areas	First Media Jakarta/Java	MyRepublic Growing
Speed	10-300 Mbps	50-500 Mbps	50-500 Mbps	50-300 Mbps
Price	IDR 275K-700K	IDR 300K-900K	IDR 300K-800K	IDR 300K-700K
Coverage	Best	Cities only	Limited areas	Expanding
Reliability	Good	Very good	Good	Good

Bali Specific Options

Provider	Availability	Notes
IndiHome	Most areas	Reliable but slow setup
Biznet	Urban areas	Fast, good for nomads
CBN	Limited	Corporate focus
Local WISP	Rural	Varies greatly

Digital Nomad Setup

Recommended Setup

For reliable remote work:

Primary: Fixed fiber (IndiHome/Biznet)
Backup: Telkomsel SIM with data
Emergency: Pocket WiFi or phone hotspot

Never rely on single connection for important calls!

Coworking Spaces

Most coworking spaces offer:

Fast fiber internet
Backup connections
Comfortable workspace
Networking

Popular in Bali:

Outpost (Canggu, Ubud)
Dojo Bali (Canggu)
Tropical Nomad (Canggu)
Hubud (Ubud)

Troubleshooting

Slow Connection?

Issue	Solution
Congestion	Switch to less busy provider
Location	Move closer to window/router
Throttling	Check data usage, buy package
VPN needed	Use quality VPN service

VPN in Indonesia

VPN Usage

VPNs are not illegal in Indonesia but:

Some sites are blocked (Reddit, etc.)
Streaming may require VPN
Quality VPNs recommended
Free VPNs often slow

Popular options: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark

Quick Tips

Buy SIM at airport - Easiest for tourists
Telkomsel for travel - Best coverage outside cities
XL/Tri for cities - Better value if staying put
Top up via apps - GoPay, OVO, Dana work
Check MyTelkomsel app - Easy package management
Register IMEI early - Don't wait until blocked
Have backup - Always have mobile data as backup

Where to Buy

Tourist SIMs

Airports: Kiosks after customs
Convenience stores: Indomaret, Alfamart
Phone shops: Malls, shopping centers
Online: Some delivery options

Top Up (Pulsa)

Convenience stores
Bank apps
GoPay, OVO, Dana
MyTelkomsel app
Tokopedia, Shopee

Common Questions

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SIM Cards & Internet in Indonesia 2026: Expat Guide

Questions about how this applies to your case?

SIM Cards & Internet in Indonesia 2026: Expat Guide

Mobile Providers Compared

Indonesian Mobile Providers

Data Package Costs

Monthly Data Cost

Default Inputs

Estimated Result

Getting a SIM Card

Tourist SIM (Airport/Shop)

Regular SIM Registration

SIM Registration Requirements

IMEI Registration

Recommended Data Packages

Telkomsel (Best Coverage)

XL Axiata (Good Value)

Tri (Budget)

Home Internet (WiFi)

Fiber Providers

Home Internet Providers

Bali Specific Options

Digital Nomad Setup

Coworking Spaces

Troubleshooting

Slow Connection?

VPN in Indonesia

Quick Tips

Where to Buy

Tourist SIMs

Top Up (Pulsa)

Common Questions

Ask Zantara

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