overview
Bali has been regularly ranked in the top 5 best destinations for digital nomads in international rankings for several years. And without good internet, it wouldn't be rated so well. You can find good and relatively cheap internet in Bali not only on your phone with a local SIM card but also in restaurants, hotels, co-working centers in tourist areas, and last but not least, possibly in your home from cable internet providers. So you don't have to worry about being online and unable to post your videos on YouTube or Instagram or participate in video conferences with your clients.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
Mobile Data
4G mobile data in Bali is quite good and often faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi in restaurants or hotels. We recommend getting a SIM card from a local mobile data provider upon arrival. Plus, mobile data is affordable compared to the EU, and you won't spend over USD 8 monthly for 25 GB of data.
There are several mobile operators in Bali whose SIM cards you can buy to use mobile internet:
Mobile Data Provider Recommendation
Of these mobile providers, we use and recommend the services of Telkomsel. Although its services are the most expensive, they are still affordable compared to Europe and offer the best 4G coverage, high internet speeds, and reliability in less accessible locations. It's also the operator with the best coverage throughout Indonesia, so that you will be fine with connection outside Bali, such as on Lombok, the Gili Islands, or elsewhere.
Mobile Data Coverage
Bali's 4G/4G+ service coverage is decent. You'll hardly come across places without a service during regular travel. These are more or less only in the mountains. You can find maps of Bali coverage of each operator below. 5G is still in its beginnings in Bali, so it's better not to count on it. It is only available in Nusa Dua, Kuta, and Sanur.
Coverage maps for all mobile operators (source: nperf.com)
Telkomsel
XL
Smartfren
Indosat
Tri
Where to Buy a SIM Card
You can buy SIM cards from mobile operators at any kiosk that sells mobile phones and accessories. They usually have a large selection of SIM cards with different pre-paid services. These outlets can be found in almost every village. You can find them almost everywhere in larger villages and tourist areas.
Common store where you can buy SIM Cards and top-up data and calls
You can buy a SIM card directly at the airport on arrival in Bali. Many shops are in the arrivals hall next to each other on the left-hand side as you exit. Please note that the prices are much higher than what you will pay at different places in the mentioned kiosks. For example, you can buy a SIM worth IDR 80,000 at the airport for IDR 250,000, etc. So it's up to you whether you want to pay extra and get it sorted right away or wait to buy for a better deal later.
Price of SIM cards
The price of the SIM card varies according to the operator chosen and the services included in the pre-paid packages, i.e., whether it is only mobile data (there is a further distinction as to what this data can be used for) and possibly also calls or SMS. Prices range from IDR 30 000 - IDR 150 000.
💡 Tip: Remember that the packages are valid for 30 days, so there's no need to buy the highest ones with 60 GB of data or more, as you probably won't be able to use them within 30 days. You can't transfer the data to the next month and must always buy a new package. Beware, there are also 1-day or 7-day packages. Always carefully check how long the data or call and SMS package is valid.
You can find the current data and call prices on the websites of individual operators or in their mobile apps, links below. Packages in physical stores may vary in price, number of minutes per call, and GB of data.
Register Your Phone/Tablet and SIM Card
IMEIs of imported phones or tablets must be registered at customs on arrival in Bali (or entry into Indonesia) for stays longer than 90 days. How to register phones and tablets can be found in the IMEI Registration Guide.
In addition, you must register the SIM card itself if you want to use mobile data for more than 30 days.
💡 Tip: Some retailers will register your SIM card directly for you when they sell it to you, or they may ask for your passport. That's fine; you won't have to worry about it later. If the retailer can't help you register your SIM, you'll have to go directly to the operator's office, where they'll register your SIM card based on your passport.
If you don't register your SIM, mobile data will usually stop working after 30 days, regardless of whether you have an unexpired pre-paid package. This is where it varies a lot. Sometimes the blockage happens after precisely 30 days, sometimes after two months. Unfortunately, it's impossible to say how this will be for you or what influences the cut-off date.
How to Top-Up Data and Calls
Since pre-paid packages are usually valid for 30 days, you'll probably need to buy a new data or calling package if you stay in Bali longer. One option is to buy a new SIM with an already active package, but you must register it again. Additionally, if you already have, for example, WhatsApp or other services like GoPay (more on that below) active on your existing number, a better solution is to keep your existing local number and just top-up your data/calls.
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In shops: you can use the same retailer's kiosks where you buy your SIM cards to top up your data. Just come in, choose from your operator's offer, pay, and the retailer will activate the package on your SIM. The whole process takes 5 minutes, and the retailer will do it for you. You will receive a confirmation SMS about the successful top-up to your Indonesian number.
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Online: An easier way is to use the operator's mobile app. Download the app and choose from a range of packages and pay. You can pay by card in the app or use the local GoPay service we use, for example.
Links to the mobile apps of each mobile provider:
XL
Indosat
Demonstration of the package selection and payment procedure in the case of Telkomsel.
Example of data package purchase in Telkomsel app.
Tourist SIM Card by Telkomsel
Since 2022, there has been a special tourist SIM card from Telkomsel. You can buy it in advance online here and pick it up at a shop in Bali. Alternatively, you can purchase it in Bali at Telkomsel outlets within 14 days of ordering. When you pick up your SIM card, remember to bring your passport and a screenshot of your phone's IMEI. The SIM card is valid for 30 days and includes 25 GB data and 25 minutes calling package. The price is IDR 150,000 (USD 10). Once the package is used up or the 30 days expire, you can recharge the SIM card with another package to continue using it.
In comparison, Telkomsel's 28 GB data package costs IDR 105,000 on the mobile app. The package isn't a bargain if you take advantage of calling within Indonesia.
GoPay Service
If you don't want to or, for some reason, can't top-up your data with a credit card, we recommend GoPay. It is a very widely supported payment method, and you can also use it to pay for food delivery from restaurants using GoJek. At the checkout, you can top up your GoPay wallet at the ubiquitous Alfamart or Indomaret mini markets. All you need to register a GoPay account is an Indonesian phone number. Open your mobile operator's app, choose the package you want, and select the GoPay payment option. The amount will be deducted from your credit, and you're done.
WiFi & cable
Publicly Available Wi-Fi Networks
Wi-Fi networks are widespread in Bali, mostly in tourist areas, and can be found in restaurants, cafes, hotels, and co-working centers, but you may be charged extra for internet access.
If you travel around the island, the density of available wireless networks decreases as you move away from these locations. You will rarely find available Wi-Fi networks outside of the tourist areas.
💡 Tip: Locations with the highest concentration of public Wi-Fi networks: Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, from Kuta to Canggu, Denpasar, Sanur, Ubud.
Public Wi-Fi speeds at these locations are sufficient for everyday office work and social networking. The most common speeds are between 20 to 50 Mbps (i.e., download speeds of about 2 to 8 MB/s at best unless the place is very crowded). But don't count on being able to upload a 4K video to YouTube in every restaurant without any problems.
Wired Internet
If you decide to move to Bali, you'll need a wired internet connection to use the internet at home to watch Netflix and for occasional work. ;)
Again, Bali is quite good at this, and you can choose from several providers depending on where you are and how fast you need your internet to be. The biggest and most well-known providers are:
The range of connections is wide. Speeds and prices start at 20 Mbps from IDR 250,000/month, and you can also choose a guaranteed speed of 300 Mbps for IDR 3,000,000/month. The average price for 50 to 100 Mpbs is around 500,000 IDR/month. So everyone will undoubtedly find what they need.
💡 Interesting fact: Cable internet is brought to Bali via the "Indonesia Global Gateway (IGG)" submarine cable, which runs for 5300 km, starting in Singapore and running to Manado Port on the island of Sulawesi.
Sometimes there may be a problem with this connection; thus, the whole island is affected by the wired internet outage. These outages are not frequent, once a year at most, and last up to a few hours. In this case, we recommend replacing the connection with mobile internet.
Indonesia Global Gateway (IGG) System cable, lenght 5300 km
Censorship
Since 2008, a law passed in Indonesia has allowed the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to regulate the flow of information on the Internet. In 2010, a regulation was issued on multimedia content that must be deleted or blocked by individual internet providers in Indonesia.
This includes the following content: pornography, gambling, incitement to hatred, threats of violence, disclosure of private information, intellectual property, false information, and content that demeans a person or group based on physical characteristics such as disability.
In 2020, despite the negative stance of international human rights and freedom of expression organizations, the law enacted a new stricter regulation, making it mandatory for entities operating online services in Indonesia to register with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Entities must provide the Ministry with access to all electronic systems and user data of their clients upon request. According to the directive, an entity must also respond to a request to remove content that "disrupts public order" within 24 hours and remove content involving child sexual abuse, terrorism, or content that "critically disrupts public order" within 4 hours of being notified.
Prohibited Services in Indonesia
In addition to pornography in general, the following services are currently not working in Indonesia:
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Reddit
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Vimeo
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Content download services such as Torrents
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LGBT content and some apps
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Some foreign crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, etc.
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Websites promoting drugs and illegal activities
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Websites with content that is critical of the government or promotes hate speech and radicalization
VPN
The mentioned restrictions on internet content in Indonesia can be easily circumvented with a VPN. For the less tech-savvy, a VPN will make your computer or phone pretend it's not in Indonesia so you can easily access the blocked content.
VPN use is not prohibited in Indonesia, and the state does not monitor VPN providers or their customers. According to surveys, Indonesia has the most significant number of VPN users globally. On desktop computers, 41 % of people use it.
We recommend Surfshark or Nord VPN for paid VPN services. Prices range from USD 2.49/month.
Among the free VPN services (up to 2GB), we use the Windscribe browser or phone add-on, or the Turbo VPN Lite app for the phone only.
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