Once upon a time, not too long ago, tourists going on an international vacation either had to go out of contact while traveling or fork out a small fortune to make an international phone call back home.
Nowadays, tourists are hard-pressed to find somewhere totally without a signal!
Indonesia’s 4G connectivity and mobile signal range are widespread and reliable.
With mobile data super affordable and consistent connection, it’s easy to see why the country, and Bali specifically, has become a home away from home for digital nomads and remote workers.
It brings tourists a great sense of peace of mind to know that they can stay connected to the outside world 100% of the time while on vacation.
It is now easier than ever for tourists to get a temporary SIM card with pre-paid data, calls, and SMS to stay online throughout their trip to Bali
There are a number of mobile network providers in Indonesia, XL, Smartfren, 3 and Indosat but there is one provider who gets rave reviews from tourists and is winning top awards nationwide.
Telksomsel is the largest mobile network provider in Indonesia and offers the best deals for tourists, digital nomads and expats in Bali.
Telksomsel has just received a huge international award at the Oolka Speediest Awards.
The network won Best Mobile Coverage, Fastest Mobile Network and Best Mobile Network for the fifth year in a row.
In a written statement following the massive win, the Marketing Director of Telksomsel, Derrick Heng, said, “This achievement adds to Telksomsel’s enthusiasm in its commitment to implementing the latest technology and strengthening high-speed broadband network capabilities to improve the quality of consumers’ digital lifestyle experiences evenly and equally.”
Telkomsel makes it easier than ever for tourists to arrange a SIM card for their trip to Bali. In fact, it is now possible to pre-order a tourist pre-paid SIM card to pick up at Bali Airport on arrival.
Tourists must visit the Telkomsel Tourist SIM website, and follow the very easy steps. The basic package gets tourist 25GB of data, 25-minutes of voice call all for just IDR 150,000.
Telkomsel explains to tourists, “Before you buy a tourist prepaid card, please make sure and prepare. Unlock phone (your phone is not locked on a particular provider and allows other network use). [You’ll need a] photo of your passport. Screenshot of your IMEI information by dial/call *#06#. You will get 25 GB of Data for 30 Days.”
This package cannot be renewed or extended if it runs out.
Tourists can buy data packages via the MyTelkomsel App or at a phone shop, which is located in almost every village in Bali.
The SIM is valid for 30 days once activated, and tourists can order their pre-paid SIM up to 14 days before arriving in Bali.
To order the SIM card online, ready for pick up at the Telksomsel Counter that is just outside the luggage pick-up area at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The SIM pick-up service is also available at Mandalika in Lombok.
It is also just as easy to arrange a Telksomsel SIM after arrival in Bali.
However, tourists are reminded that all deals are the same and that they’re not necessarily saving time or money by skipping the counter on arrival.
It is important to register your IMEI in Bali on the first day of your trip, too.
Tourists, digital nomads, or expats staying longer than 90 days in Bali must register their phone’s IMEI if they want to have a local phone number for more than 3 months.
The legislation was put in place to help tackle the illegal phone trade in Indonesia. For tourists, the process is pretty straightforward; registering the IMEI is free and can be done when you register your tourist SIM.
Simply make sure you have the phone and your passport with you. If you are staying in Indonesia longer than 90 days, it is highly recommended to register your IMEI on the day of your arrival, as reporting it later can incur a fee of 40% tax on the value of the device.
