SIM Cards and Internet

Mobile coverage is good across south Bali, Ubud and most tourist areas, though it thins in the mountains, on remote coasts and parts of Nusa Penida. Indonesia's main networks are Telkomsel, generally the strongest for island-wide coverage, XL Axiata, and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, which sells the IM3 and Tri (3) brands. All three offer prepaid tourist packages with generous data, and calls over WhatsApp are how most people communicate here.

You can buy a SIM at the airport on arrival, which is convenient but usually costs more than official network stores in town. Registration with your passport is required, and staff at official outlets handle it for you. Avoid buying pre-registered SIMs from street stalls. eSIMs are an easy alternative for compatible phones: Telkomsel sells a tourist eSIM, and many international eSIM providers cover Indonesia. Install one before you fly and you have data the moment you land.

Indonesia registers phone IMEI numbers. Tourist SIMs work for up to 90 days without further steps; if you plan to use a local SIM in the same phone for longer, register the phone's IMEI with customs, ideally at the desk in the airport arrivals area. Import duty may apply to more expensive phones. Roaming on a foreign SIM and using wifi are not affected. Rules have been adjusted several times, so check the current requirements with Bea Cukai (Indonesian customs) if you are staying long term.

Wifi is widely available in hotels, villas and cafes, and Canggu, Pererenan and Ubud have dedicated coworking spaces with fast fiber and backup power. Speeds in private villas vary widely, so ask for a recent speed test before booking a long stay. Power cuts happen, especially in the wet season. A power bank and a mobile data plan as backup will keep you online when the wifi drops.