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.
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
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.
