Promotional image by Telkomsel – its SIMPATI mobile phone network is Indonesia’s most extensive with services to every province.
Indonesia is well and truly wired … or perhaps that should be well and truly wireless. When visiting you will be able to easily stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues back home without running up extortionate roaming costs.
DIGITAL WIFI TELEPHONE and INTERNET services are available across most of its thousands of populated islands.
But if you are bringing your cell phone or tablet with you then there are some complications you need to be aware of. Otherwise your access to data and telephone services will be limited.
First - A cell phone love affair
Indonesians love their cell phones with most owning recent-model smart phones.
The websites statistica.com and ceicdata.com report that Indonesian mobile phone subscriptions exceeded more than 365 million as at December 2021. This from an estimated population at that time of around 274m.
Indonesians call their cell phones ‘hand phones’ (abbreviated to HP – pronounced Hah Pay). Pre-paid phone credits are referred to as ‘PULSA.’
Most Indonesian smart phones are lower-cost Oppo and Vivo phones from China or Samsung from South Korea. Between them these three brands enjoy a market share approaching 70%.
To meet the huge demand for phone services (and the money-making opportunities it represents), Indonesia’s mobile phone providers have undertaken a massive rollout of wireless phone towers and fiber optic cables to carry telephone and Internet traffic.
As of 2023, 4G connections and advanced data services are widely available, even from remote locations. And the rollout of 5G has been underway since 2021 with major cities already covered.
Lorem ipsum dolor Checking a selfie, a video call or something hilarious on social media? Cell Phones and tablets are central to the Indonesian way of life. – Pic Eko Susanto Flickr.com
Complications - compulsory phone registration or NO ACCESS
However, all the good news about Indonesia’s sophisticated phone networks comes with an irksome catch for visitors.
Prior to April 2020 you could simply buy an Indonesian SIM card on arrival, swop out the SIM from your home provider, and immediately access your chosen Indonesian network.
Now you have to go through a messy ‘registration process’ before you can slip an Indonesian pre-paid SIM card into the phone you bring from outside Indonesia and start calling and texting home without paying punitive international roaming charges.
Indonesia implemented the new regulation out of concern over black-market mobile phones -the Government was missing out on the 40% duty payable on tens of thousands of phones entering the country illegally.
Thei solution was to block the black-market phones from being used until the owner could show proof that the appropriate duty had been paid.
So, the authorities mandated a system under which phones purchased abroad will not work with SIM cards from Indonesian mobile phone carriers without prior registration of their IMEI number.
So, what about tourists and business visitors expecting to be able to use their phone through Indonesian carriers during their stay. They aren’t black marketeers – when they go home, their phone or tablet goes with them.
Not a problem – the regulations waive any Customs Duty obligations provided you will be visiting for fewer than 90 days.
The answer is an attractive Telkomsel or SIMPATI tourist SIM card package like the one pictured below. But unsurprisingly there is a process to obtaining it …
‘Done for you’ help from network providers
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Remember that IMEI number mentioned above – to get the exemption you still have to register it, and it must be done WITHIN 24 HOURS of your arrival.
The obvious question – what on earth is an IMEI number? It stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity – more simply, a unique serial number.
So, how on earth do I get the number? * You don’t need to – Indonesian mobile phone carriers have come up with a deal to save you the trouble (and avoid losing income from a potential 20 million plus overseas visitors).
They will complete the whole registration process and get your phone or tablet functioning fully with a minimum of fuss. Here’s how it works –
On arrival find the nearest official Telkomsel Phone shop (use the airport or hotel WIFI to Google ‘location official Telkomsel shop’).
Go there with your phone and your Passport.
Pay about Rp200,000 to Rp300,000 (AUD$20 to $30) for a Telkomsel Tourist Card or Prabayar card.
Provide the personal details needed for the staff to quickly complete your registration.
Remember you MUST complete the above process within 24 hours of your arrival in Indonesia.
Your prepaid phone access is available for 90 days after which it will cease. Your data allocation will expire after 30 days, but you can top it up as you require.
Be sure to go to an official Telkomsel outlet to ensure the registration process is carried out properly – roadside stalls or hole-in-the-wall counters selling SIM card top-ups probably won’t be familiar with the process.
(Other networks are providing similar Tourist cards, but Telkomsel Simpati is Indonesia’s largest mobile phone provider with the widest coverage and the most outlets.)
- If you are still curious about accessing that IMEI number simply dial #06# and the number should come up on your screen.
Other options for making and SAVING on international calls
Take care to avoid mosquito bites while in Indonesia because mosquitoes can carry both Malaria and Dengue Fever.
The risks from these diseases are relatively low in the main visitor destinations. There is virtually no malaria in Jakarta, most of Java, metropolitan Bali, and the urban areas of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. In total around 55% of Indonesia is considered malaria free.
However, there is some risk if visiting remote regions. Malaria can be present in rural areas of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi and throughout many the islands east of Bali.
Regular fogging is used to control mosquitoes in hotels and resorts and in suburban neighorhoods across Indonesia – Pic un.org
The debilitating and painful flu-like symptoms of dengue fever can be the more worrying, with periodic outbreaks in major cities and suburban areas.
Fogging programs to combat Dengue
Hotels and resorts routinely use insecticide fogging to combat dengue. Local authorities do the same in neighborhoods prone to outbreaks.
Time is the only cure for dengue fever – recovery usually takers 10 to 15 days. Occasionally it can be fatal.
There is no specific treatment. The medical advice is to rest, take paracetamol to reduce pain and fever, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and cease taking blood thinning drugs to avoid any risk of hemorrhage.
Severe cases can result in internal bleeding and damage to organs, but these are rare in adults.
My visiting daughter and son-in-law contracted Dengue and spent about a week in hospital where they received excellent care and recovered fully.
Prevention is the answer. Wear appropriate clothing, especially, in the early evening. If there are mosquitoes around then apply a repellent. Use a knock-down spray if there is any hint of mosquitoes in your hotel room.
Many hotels will leave a pressure pack of insect spray in your room. If not, then buy a small pack for yourself or ask the hotel staff to spray the room for you.
Inoculations for Indonesia - What shots do I really need?
if you have recently visited Africa or some areas of South America, you must have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate This is to protect the Indonesian community.
Any other inoculations are optional and most experienced visitors dispense with them completely.
Internet country advisories will often recommend Hepatitis A and Typhoid inoculations, yet reputable Travel Health clinics do not recommend them for nearby Singapore and Malaysia.
Why the difference? – Because country recommendations from health authorities are for the WHOLE country and therefore must take account of any risk within the national boundaries, even if confined to limited or remote areas.
Indonesia, as the world’s longest archipelago, is vast and has many different regions. A health risk in one location, like Papua, influences the advisory for the whole country.
Indonesian hospitals - what if I become sick or I'm injured?
Most of Indonesia has extensive medical facilities and services ranging from basic to state-of-the-art. However, quality care and facilities can be limited in rural regions
The cost of medical care is much lower than in Western developed countries. In some modern private hospitals, a private room and care can be cheaper than a night in a good hotel.
Regardless of where or how your illness or accident happens, unless you (or your friends, your family, or sponsors) can pay or guarantee payment, then you may not be treated.
It is therefore essential you have reliable TRAVEL INSURANCE. Ideally the policy should cover evacuation costs. Most responsible tour operators make travel insurance mandatory. It is a firm requirement for Better Tours packages.
TOP:Awal Brothers hospital Batam (Pic Yunianti Jannatun Naim – antaranews.com). ABOVE LEFT: Pondok Indah Hospital in Bintaro Jaya, Greater Jakarta (Pic kfmap.asia), and RIGHT: Doctor viewing computer diagnostics. (Pic irwan-iwe – unsplash.com)
How is the Indonesian medical system set up - is it any good?
Basic health care in Indonesia begins at clinics in local communities and rural areas. Called Puskesmas, they are staffed by nurses and midwives (Bidan).
It seems that a midwife is part of the team at every community clinic and you will often hear locals refer to their consultations as a visit to the Bidan regardless of whether it has anything to do with a pregnancy or childbirth.
The care provided is usually good and incredibly cheap. A consultation and medication can cost as little as five Australian dollars.
Some years ago, an American friend and I were visiting one of the Riau Islands when he suffered a nasty gash to his head. A minibus delivered us to the nearest community health clinic where a nurse and her assistant cleaned, treated, sutured, and dressed his wound.
The fee asked was only around AUD $6. My friend was so impressed with the care that he immediately reached into his wallet and handed over the equivalent of USD$100 as a donation to the clinic.
In the towns and cities care is provided by more than 2,800 large public and private hospitals, many with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
About 65% are private sector with the rest funded by Government or operated by charitable or religious organizations. Larger hospitals also operate ambulance services.
A Puskesmas or Community Health Clinic in Benkulu Province, West Sumatra. You will find centres like this in regional communities throughout Indonesia.
One of 12 national in-service training centres being established for health professionals and workers. This one is located in Tanjung Uncang, Batam
General Practitioner doctors (Dokter Umum) are widely available, usually in group practices and often conjointly with pharmacies (known as apoteks).
Larger centres have efficient and well-equipped pathology labs. Some GPs offer a choice of modern Western medicines or traditional cures.
Medical services are often stretched
Unless you are in a very remote region and provided you can guarantee payment, you will have ready access to quite good medical care.
However, services are often stretched. Unless you arrive at a hospital as an emergency, you can expect crowds and extended waiting times.
Indonesia is a caring society, and you will find nursing staff to be helpful and attentive, if a little shy when dealing with Westerners.
The quality of doctors varies. Many are well trained and excellent, but the abilities of others are open to question.
The Government has established a national network of sophisticated in-service regional training centres aimed at lifting standards for doctors, nurses, and ancillary staff.
Remember too that in the event of a truly serious medical issue in Indonesia, the world-class facilities of Singapore and Malaysia are close by.
How can I get my medications in Indonesia?
Pharmacies in Indonesia are called Apoteks – this one is in Jakarta
Indonesian pharmacies or drug stores (Apoteks) are well stocked. And you can obtain most common medications without a doctor’s prescription.
If a branded medication is not available, the pharmacist will usually offer a generic substitute – an identical medicine but at a much lower price.
The Indonesian government is encouraging the supply of low-cost generic preparations. So much so, that regular visitors to Indonesia with chronic conditions save money by routinely stocking up on medications to take home. A no-brainer if you are from a country with expensive health care.
Rather than complete packages of medications you will usually be offered blister-pack strips. But you can buy full packs, depending on the pharmacy’s stocks. You may have to order and wait a day or so.
Busy Chinese medicine outlet in the city of Bandung
Apoteks stock traditional remedies along with Western medicines. There also are specialist Chinese medicine outlets who also dispense and sell pills, potions, lotions, and remedies from Indonesian and other Asian traditions.
Supermarkets and convenience stores stock sunscreens, insect repellents, lotions, elastic strip bandages, toiletries and more at low prices.
TOILETS in Indonesia - Dirty, smelly, squats or what?
There are plenty of horror stories about the toilets of Asia – and the bad news is that many of them are true.
But toilet facilities in Indonesian hotels, bars, better restaurants, shopping centres, airports and public buildings typically will be clean and well maintained with Western style pedestal pans and hand wash basins.
There is often a choice of cubicles with pedestal toilets, or the squat pans preferred by Asians.
Usually there is a spray washer or hand bidet on a hose adjacent to Western or Asian toilets for cleaning yourself (Expats variously call them ‘bum guns, bum washers or butt blasters’).
The Asian squat toilet and the ‘bum gun’ hand bidet can be a challenge for Westerners. But there are plenty of regular Western pedestals.
Don’t worry – you will become accustomed to this hand-held-bidet way of completing your toilet. You might even start thinking of installing them in your bathrooms at home.
PRO TIP
The trick with bum guns is to try them out with a squirt into the toilet BEFORE you use them. The water pressure is often very strong. The unwary will wet much more of themselves than intended, together with their clothing!
The definitive article on bum blasters has been written by backpacker Samantha Lego. You can read her tongue in cheek account here South East Asia Backpacker Bum-gun Beginners Guide. I strongly recommend you check it out, because it is hilarious as well as instructional.
Other than in your hotel, there often will be no toilet tissue provided. So, if you need it, you should carry your own. It is available from Indonesian supermarkets and convenience stores (The Paseo 3-ply is good).
Remember, toilet paper can gum up the works
Where there is toilet paper provided, you may also see signs asking you not to flush it down the toilet but instead place it in a provided receptacle.
Toilet discharge in Indonesia typically goes to septic tanks and excess toilet tissue can reduce the efficiency of the system. The idea is to use the bum-washer for cleansing and the toilet paper to dry-off.
In markets and open-air food courts toilets are likely to be smelly, possibly dirty and have only Asian style squat pans and basic urinals.
There will be no toilet tissue and often no spray washer, but rather a container of water and a dipper. You are expected to use dippers of water to clean yourself and flush the toilet.
All this can represent a hygiene challenge for Western visitors. However, you will find that most of these places have separate hand-wash basins away from the toilets with liquid soap supplied. Look for them.
Expect to find squat toilet arrangements if you are invited into Indonesian homes, particularly in rural areas.
It may take a little while to become accustomed to them, but people who ought to know maintain they are healthier than Western pedestals.
Perhaps so, but for the not-so-fit or flexible they can be quite a test on knees and legs – maybe a few pre-travels squat exercises are in order?
STDs - Dangers from local liaisons in Indonesia?
The mantra of ALWAYS practicing safe sex applies just as much in Indonesia as elsewhere, though there is evidence that many visitors and locals routinely don’t do so.
As in the rest of the world, HIV is a fact of life in Indonesia. As of 2019 official figures put the number of people living with the condition at just over 640,00, about 0.04% of the population. You will not hear much about HIV as it remains a largely taboo subject in Indonesian society, which is a pity.
However, the rate of new infections has been declining and the Government is quietly supporting enlightened prevention and treatment programs, including clinics offering free or low-cost testing, anti-retroviral therapies, and counselling for those infected.
Though not a major issue, Indonesia also is by no means immune from the usual run of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), like gonorrhoea, genital herpes, chlamydia and so on.
In the event you contract a nasty STD, there are efficient testing and treatment facilities at medical clinics and hospitals where you can be treated efficiently, inexpensively, and discreetly. There will be doctors or staff who can speak English.
IN SUMMARY ...
Overall, health services in Indonesia are not as sophisticated as in Western countries or in nearby countries like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand (where first rate facilities attract medical tourism).
But good, inexpensive medical treatment is available, especially in Indonesia’s big towns and cities. And it is constantly improving.
Rural areas can be more problematic, and this is a powerful reason why travel insurance with medical repatriation benefits should be part of your visit preparations.
Indonesia also has its share of folk cures. MASSAGE is one of them and is considered a potential cure for just about everything. The massages are excellent and cost amazingly little.
To learn more, check out these articles:
The marvellous magic of traditional massage in Indonesia
What to expect in an Indonesian massage salon
In Indonesia you can be deliciously pampered for ridiculously little
References
- Spain is FOOD POISONING capital of the world – EXPRESS Travel News, UK
