Prepaid SIM сards and mobile internet in Indonesia: The Best Connectivity Options

Indonesia is a fascinating country with a mix of culture, history, and natural beauty. From rainforests to beaches, it's a great destination for travelers. But before you go, make sure you're prepared. In this article, we will let you know which Indonesia prepaid data SIM cards are suitable for tourists to connect to mobile internet while in the country.

We will also list all the main ways of connection available on the islands of Indonesia, compare offers from local operators, as well as tariffs when using a virtual SIM card.

Where to buy a prepaid data SIM card in Indonesia

There are several mobile operators in Indonesia that offer tourists physical prepaid SIM cards in Bali and other islands.You can also activate a virtual SIM card before traveling to the country.

Purchase options depend on the personal preferences of tourists and the technical characteristics of smartphones. Indonesia prepaid data SIM cards can be purchased in the following ways:

• online, to solve the issue of communication in advance or right upon arrival on the island;
• offline at the airport, as well as in cell phone shops and any other retail outlets where starter packs are sold.

If you prefer to prepare for traveling abroad in advance, order an Indonesia prepaid data SIM card on Amazon, eBay or other international sites. The disadvantage of this option is that SIM cards are overpriced and there is a limited selection of available offers. If you decide to deal with the mobile Internet connection after your arrival on the island, try to buy travel SIM cards for Indonesia at the points of sale of mobile operators, as at the airport they may be overpriced.

Local mobile operators have fairly good 4G mobile coverage. In remote parts of Indonesia or in the mountains, coverage may be worse. If you have not decided which prepaid data SIM card to buy in Bali, Java, Sumatra or other Indonesian islands yet, we recommend you to contact an official cell phone shop of one of the local operators. Consultants will help you choose, activate and connect a starter package. You need to show your passport to make a purchase.

A more innovative and convenient solution for mobile Internet connection in Indonesia is eSIM technology. If your smartphone supports eSIM virtual card, you can activate it either during your stay in your country or after your arrival in Indonesia. The process takes a few minutes, no documents are required — it's quick!

How to buy a prepaid internet SIM card in Indonesia: peculiarities

There are several mobile network operators in the country that offer physical SIM cards. In resorts such as Bali or Mandalika-Lomboka, it is possible to pre-order a local SIM card online 14 days before arrival and pick it up at a dedicated pick-up point.

In Indonesia, you will not be able to buy a SIM card for a smartphone tied to a single carrier. In addition, you will need to present a copy of your passport, as well as provide the IMEI of your device.

If you do not want to waste time on the purchasing and understanding the intricacies of cell phone plans of local mobile operators, try a more convenient option to connect to the Internet via eSIM technology. In this case:

• activation takes place online;
• eSIM virtual card cannot be damaged, lost or broken;
• as soon as the service becomes irrelevant, it is deactivated with one click;
• it is possible to switch to different operators.

Read also: What is eSIM and how does it work

Prepaid SIM cards in Bali

You can buy a physical prepaid data SIM card in Bali only when you show your passport. Without this document, you cannot register the purchased starter pack in the country. Usually, the salesperson at the store will take a copy of the passport and register it with the tourist's name and document number.

An important point: all SIM cards on the island are free. This means that there is no payment for the purchase of a starter package or its registration. In the advertising of some operators there are offers of free SIMcards, but this is designed for tourists only, as in fact all cards are free.

In some mobile phone stores they may require payment for card activation, but this is solely the initiative of the reseller, who is looking for ways to make extra money.

You can use the tourist starter pack in Bali for 60 days. After that, your phone is automatically blocked until you pay your device import tax. For anyone who is in Bali for less than 90 days, phone registration is free.

If such restrictions and rules are inconvenient for you, choose a more up-to-date way to connect to the Internet via eSIM technology.

Best prepaid SIM cards in Indonesia

Let's take a closer look at the offers of international providers and local operators in Indonesia for tourists.

1. Yesim

Yesim mobile application offers a range of eSIM solutions designed specifically for travelers like you. Yesim eSIM plans for Indonesia provide affordable and convenient data packages that allow you to stay connected wherever you go . You will be able to use mobile internet on the island from the first second of your stay there. The connection works smoothly and at high speed.

Offers of Yesim provider for Indonesia:

• 3 GB for 7 days for 13 EUR;
• 5 GB for 15 days for 19 EUR;
• 10 GB for 30 days for 32 EUR;
• 20 GB for 30 days for 50 EUR.

Read also: eSIM vs SIM: what's the difference

2. XL Axiata

XL Axiata has the following data plans for travelers:

• 30 GB for 30 days for $4;
• 65 GB for 30 days for $8;
• 147 GB for 30 days for $13.2;
• 260 GB for 30 days for $20.7.

3. Telkomsel

Telkomsel offers SIM cards tied to three main islands: Bali, Java, Sumatra. Therefore, it is not always easy to understand the data plans. Before buying, it is better to specify for which island you need a SIM card. Tariffs are as follows:

• 11 GB for 30 days for $2.7;
• 18 GB for 30 days for $4.3;
• 35 GB for 30 days for $5.4;
• 51 GB for 30 days for $7.4;
• 70 GB for 30 days for $8.9.

4. Indosat Ooredoo

A perfect option if you fly to Indonesia with a large group of relatives or friends: this operator has unlimited calls and messages within the network. Mobile internet tariffs seem to be attractive as well:

• 2 GB for 30 days for $2.9;
• 6 GB + 30 minutes of calls for 30 days for $6.4;
• 16 GB + 60 minutes of talk + 60 SMS for 30 days for $12.8;
• 30 GB + 120 minutes of talk + 120 SMS for 30 days for $19.3.

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