When it comes to choosing a mobile phone or internet service provider in Indonesia, feel free聽to ask around for advice. This way, you will be able to target the one that will effectively meet your needs and your budget.
Like in any other country, expats in Indonesia will seek to stay in touch with their loved ones聽abroad. Always bear in mind that the cost of international calls and texting can vary from one聽provider to another. Therefore, should you find the rates too high, consider using Skype,聽WhatsApp, Viber, or Facebook. They are perfect alternatives.
Important:
To avoid any kind of scam, ask other expatriates for advice about the real cost of a SIM card,聽and about the details of data and voice services provided.
Cell phone providers in Indonesia
Almost every major Indonesian city has a reliable cell phone system, as most Indonesians are聽connected to a mobile network. , , , , , and are the most popular service providers in the country. It is good to know that聽Telkomsel has invested heavily in BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) throughout Indonesia. As a聽result, the provider enjoys a good reputation when it comes to coverage, even in remote areas.
In Indonesia, mobile phones are commonly referred to as "handphones"; or "HP";. The聽handphone has become an indispensable part of Indonesian business and personal life, and聽consequently, many companies usually provide their top employees with a device. So, why not聽negotiate the provision of a handphone and the coverage of related bills with your employer, if聽you are on an international transfer?
SIM cards are particularly cheap in Indonesia. In that sense, mobile subscribers are legion in the聽country and prefer prepaid plans, which are particularly popular. However, this ease of use聽doesn't come without consequences: Indonesia has one of the highest rates of inactive phone聽numbers in the world.
You can also choose your own number when purchasing a SIM card. As a side note, remember聽that vendors can provide you with a "canot nomor", which translates into "nice number". It is聽simply a series of numbers that are easy to remember.
While monthly plans, called pascabayar (post-paid), are available, most Indonesians prefer聽prepaid plans, which can be topped up as they go. You can buy pulsa (communication credits)聽in two forms, either as a scratch-off card or digitally online.
Good to know:
If you buy a scratch card as part of a prepaid package, make sure the card has not expired (the聽date is indicated on the back). It is also a good idea to scratch your voucher in the presence of聽the vendor. This way, you can get all the help you need in case of issues with your recharge.聽To avoid running out of phone credit, it is always possible to buy "pulsas" (prepaid cards) at any聽time of the day. You can do this at an ATM, online, at a grocery store, or from street vendors.聽You will typically find cards worth between IDR 5,000 and IDR 100,000.
The current regulation requires every mobile user to register their local phone number. For聽expats, this can be done on the website or in a store of the mobile provider upon presenting an聽ID document. It can be their passport, as well as their KITAS or KITAP (residence permit, for聽those who have one). Expatriates will have to provide all the necessary details to the provider聽at the end of each 6-month period. Otherwise, they risk having their line blocked or even聽deactivated.
Internet in Indonesia
Much to the relief of the expat community living in Indonesia, the country has finally started聽rolling out broadband internet. However, the connection speed remains a matter of concern in聽some areas due to a general lack of infrastructure.
Prices and connection speeds do vary from one provider to another, however. Some may be聽more popular than others because of their packages or the quality of their customer service,聽but most importantly because of their bandwidth management.
In September 2021, the national download speed was estimated at 14.78 Mbps.
Provider-wise, , , , , , 聽and GIG are considered to be the best ISPs in the country.
When shopping for the best Internet Service Provider in Indonesia, ask your friends and聽colleagues for their advice. Before subscribing to a provider, find out about their bandwidth,聽their current ratio of users to bandwidth, and whether they offer cable, ADSL, satellite or聽wireless connection options.
In general, Indonesian ISPs charge for a certain number of hours on a monthly basis, with聽additional charges in case of overage. Before subscribing to a provider, ask about the different聽packages from the customer service.
Finally, note that you can also opt for a cable Internet connection.
Useful links:
ISP in Indonesia
Mobile phone providers
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
